This map measures: 841mm x 1189mm

For thousands of years, the original inhabitants of Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples occupied the lands with very different boundaries than today, centred on intimate cultural relationships with the land and sea.

“It’s my fathers land, my grandfather’s land, my grandmothers land. And I’m related to it, which also give me my identity.”
Father Dave Passi, Plaintiff in Mabo Ca​se

The map is an attempt to represent all the language, tribal or nation groups of the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups were included on the map based on the published resources available between 1988 and 1994 which determine the cultural, language and trade boundaries and relationships between groups. Regions were determined using the watershed basis as a template.

The map was developed along with the Encyclopedia of Aboriginal Australia as part of a research project. The Encyclopedia is available in libraries and contains more detailed information about the groups represented on the map.

"What was before Lord Vestey born and I born? It was blackfella country."
Vincent Lingiari (Wattie Creek 1966)

Limitations of the map

The AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia was produced for a general reading audience. The map is not definitive and is not the only information available which maps language and social groups. See also AUSTLANG.

The information on which the map is based is contested and may not be agreed to by some traditional custodians. The borders between groups are purposefully represented as slightly blurred. They do not claim to be exact.

The map was produced before native title legislation and is not suitable for use in native title or other land claims.

Embrace the richness of bushfoods and make them part of your everyday cooking with this inspiring collection from Nyul Nyul Elder Bruno Dann and Tahlia Mandie of Kakadu Plum Co. Offering 60 simple recipes, this book brings together dishes from Elder Bruno's camp kitchen, Tahlia's family kitchen, and other First Nations and non-Indigenous cooks. A comprehensive pantry section introduces essential bushfoods, with tips on sourcing, using, and even growing them. By cooking with bushfoods, we can honor First Nations knowledge and live in greater harmony with the land.

‘The Binna Binna man is a big fulla and he stinks like a goat. He can be good and heal you, but if you poke fun at him then you can get into big trouble, like die.’

In Binna Binna country you should watch where you go, even on a night when life is so stuffed up that nothing matters any more. You go wandering too far and you might come face to face with your worst nightmare – the Binna Binna man.

Filled with laughter and affection, this is the powerful story of a boy who is learning that if you forget where you come from you get weak. That to stay strong you must listen to the old people with your eyes and your ears – and your heart. A companion to My Girragundji.

Most of us tend to associate Australia with the one type of boomerang – the returning variety. It is generally accepted that the returning type was a later addition to boomerangs. Origins of the throwing stick are known in Egypt and parts of South America, but it was the Australian Aborigine who created a wide variety of boomerangs that had different applications, thus providing the greatest diversity. The earliest known evidence has been found at Wyrie Swamp in South Australia dating back to c.10,000 years. This has been scientifically proven by radiocarbon dating. As you read through this book you will begin to appreciate that the boomerang is more than just a toy.

Age range 6 to 9 

The emus couldn’t fly, but did they sit around looking sad? No! They made sure everyone knew just how fast they could run. Except for poor Lofty…

Lofty, a young emu desperately wants to win a big emu race, but he is slow and clumsy — and his first race ends in disaster! But, Lofty realises there is another way to win the race. He enlists the help of his Bush Mob friends Eagle, Sugar Glider and Bat — who are all excellent fliers — to teach him to fly. But it is Bush Mob’s inventor, Platypus, who designs the Feathery Paraglider that allows Lofty to win the day!

Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. The first in the series Willy-willy Wagtail, introduced Willy Wagtail and Gusto the Wind, who save the animals from a bushfire. Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Lofty the emu, Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, Kangaroo. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together. The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky is the second book in the series.

Our eyes have been drawn away from the skies to our screens. We no longer look to the stars to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders around the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them.

These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe?

Guided by six First Nations Elders, Duane Hamacher takes us on a journey across space and time to reveal the wisdom of the first astronomers. These living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. Indigenous science is dynamic, adapting to changes in the skies and on Earth, pointing the way for a world facing the profound disruptions of climate change.

‘This book marks a profound paradigm shift in our understanding of Indigenous scientific traditions, how they are transmitted, and their relevance to life today.’ – Professor Marcia Langton, University of Melbourne