ATSI and why we don’t say it.
For those that don’t know, ATSI stands for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
It’s a term that has become popular as businesses and big corporations need an abbreviation used for reporting, however it’s confusing staff to think it’s a term that can be used.
The term ATSI should not be said out loud as it can be very offensive to people. The term was used in formal discriminatory policies upon colonisation which still hold a lot of trauma for people.
I am not a Torres Strait Islander person therefore calling me ‘ATSI’ doesn’t actually make sense. This also goes back to my post yesterday, please ask someone what they identify as before assuming.
The term “Indigenous” covers both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and is a much more appropriate word if you need an abbreviation.
Or, if you’re writing it in an email, message or comms, just write it all out “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People”.
For those that don’t know, ATSI stands for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
It’s a term that has become popular as businesses and big corporations need an abbreviation used for reporting, however it’s confusing staff to think it’s a term that can be used.
The term ATSI should not be said out loud as it can be very offensive to people. The term was used in formal discriminatory policies upon colonisation which still hold a lot of trauma for people.
I am not a Torres Strait Islander person therefore calling me ‘ATSI’ doesn’t actually make sense. This also goes back to my post yesterday, please ask someone what they identify as before assuming.
The term “Indigenous” covers both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and is a much more appropriate word if you need an abbreviation.
Or, if you’re writing it in an email, message or comms, just write it all out “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People”.
