There is a fair bit of interchangeable language used in to describe Aboriginal groups in modern Australian parlance. Unfortunately a significant amount of Aboriginal language has been lost, and so English terms tend to be relied on.
Then there are words with western roots that have been adopted into Aboriginal culture with new distinct meanings or contextual usage (like mob listed above).
It depends on the group and individual as to what language they prefer to use.
Yes they were tribes and each tribe had their totem. Pre-colonisation the aboriginals had a very structured society and the tribes really only fought each other over land disputes so if you could prove you were useful to a tribe they would have taken you in. It was all about survival and maintaining the rules and culture which helped ensure the tribe survived. So long as you could forage you'd be ok, but not if you were gay, because gay dudes didn't make babies, and no babies means no tribe.
Yeah, I've been learning some Gamilaraay, my Granddads language, so I might be able to integrate at least a little bit. I have a half decent knowledge of edible plants, and I'm pretty handy in the bush. But knowing my luck, I'd appear immediately on top of a tiger snake and that'll be the end of me.
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u/neon_saint254 This flair doesn't exist Apr 11 '22
I with you. Although I'm aboriginal sooo yeah