Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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A West Australian bureaucrat has deemed the use of the term "Aboriginal" may be regarded as offensive and exercised a little-known power to redact it from birth, death and marriage certificates.
This means historians, native title claim groups and members of the public may be spending up to $49 to buy a document which may have historical detail like Aboriginality removed without their knowledge.
It has shocked historians, who were unaware of the practice and say Aboriginal is considered by most to be an inclusive term.
Aboriginal is a commonly-used term by governments around Australia, with several states — including WA — boasting ministers for Aboriginal affairs.
Emeritus professor of history at the University of Western Australia Jenny Gregory said she would write to the WA Attorney-General to request the practice be stopped.
Dr Gregory, who is also the president of the History Council of WA, said it was bizarre that the registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages was determining what people could know about their ancestors.
'Aboriginal' redacted from birth, death, marriage certificates after being deemed offensive
What a dingaling. I've never seen anything so shortsighted.
This means historians, native title claim groups and members of the public may be spending up to $49 to buy a document which may have historical detail like Aboriginality removed without their knowledge.
It has shocked historians, who were unaware of the practice and say Aboriginal is considered by most to be an inclusive term.
Aboriginal is a commonly-used term by governments around Australia, with several states — including WA — boasting ministers for Aboriginal affairs.
Emeritus professor of history at the University of Western Australia Jenny Gregory said she would write to the WA Attorney-General to request the practice be stopped.
Dr Gregory, who is also the president of the History Council of WA, said it was bizarre that the registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages was determining what people could know about their ancestors.
'Aboriginal' redacted from birth, death, marriage certificates after being deemed offensive
What a dingaling. I've never seen anything so shortsighted.