Lists of Indigenous Australians

Various indigenous Australian cultures consider the reference of deceased persons - whether in name or in image - to be taboo. In such cases there may be a special word such as "Kumantjayi" (IPA /kumencai/), used by the Warlpiri) which will be used to refer to the deceased instead of their name.

It is customary for Australian media to give warnings prior to referencing by name or depicting deceased Aboriginal persons.

ADVISORY: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following list may contain the names of deceased persons.

Politics and public service

Bob Bellear - first Indigenous judge
Neville Bonner -- Australian Senator, the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the Parliament of Australia
Linda Burney -- ALP MP, first NSW Indigenous MP.
Burnum Burnum -- activist
Mick Dodson -- activist, lawyer and academic
Pat Dodson -- activist
Gary Foley -- activist
Richard Frankland - singer/songwriter, film-maker, political activist
Pearl Gibbs -- political activist
Dr Sally Goold OAM -- first Aboriginal registered nurse in NSW
Ken Hampton -- counselor/activist
Marcia Langton -- Professor and activist
Yami Lester -- activist, especially around Maralinga issue
Vincent Lingiari -- Gurindji man. Instigator of Wave Hill Walk Off
Michael Mansell -- Tasmanian activist and lawyer
Big Bill Neidjie -- Last Gagudju speaker, and central figure in the foundation of Kakadu National Park
Douglas Nicholls -- Pastor with the Churches of Christ in Australia, Governor of South Australia
Lowitja O'Donoghue
Pat O'Shane -- magistrate
Noel Pearson
Charles Perkins
Rhoda Roberts -- artistic director
Aden Ridgeway -- senator
Rob Riley - West Australian activist
Marion Scrymgour - Northern Territory ALP MP, first female Indigenous minister in Australia.
Mum (Shirl) Smith -- humanitarian, activist, mother to many
Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes
Neville "Chappy" Williams
Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Mandawuy Yunupingu

Sports

Arthur Beetson -- rugby league
Nathan Blacklock --
Barry Cable -- Australian Rules Football
Laurie Daley -- rugby league
Mark Ella -- rugby union Brothers Gary and Glen also represented Australia at rugby union.
Graham "Polly" Farmer -- Australian Rules Football
Jeff Farmer -- Australian Rules Football
Cathy Freeman -- athletics
Eddie Gilbert -- 1930s Queensland cricketer
Jason Gillespie -- cricket
Adam Goodes -- Australian rules football
Evonne Goolagong -- tennis
Jerry Jerome -- first Aboriginal boxing champion, 1912 Middleweight
Chris Johnson -- Australian rules football
Patrick Johnson -- athletics
Jim and Phil Krakouer -- Australian rules football
Chris Lewis -- Australian rules football
Michael Long -- Australian rules football/Activist
Darby McCarthy -- jockey
Andrew McLeod -- Australian rules football
Mal Meninga - rugby league
Johnny Mullagh -- 1860s cricketer, one of the first eleven
Anthony Mundine -- boxing/rugby league
Nova Peris-Kneebone -- athletics
David Peachey -- rugby league
Steve Renouf -- rugby league
Ron Richards -- 1930s boxer
Maurice Rioli -- Australian rules football
Lionel Rose -- boxing
Wendell Sailor -- rugby leage and rugby union
Charlie Samuels-- runner, won 1888 Botany Gift
Dave Sands -- boxing
Gorden Tallis -- rugby league
Gavin Wanganeen -- Australian rules football
Marcus Williams -- Australian rules football
Mark Williams -- Australian rules football
Nicky Winmar -- Australian rules football
Darryl White -- Australian rules football

Arts

Visual Arts

see also Australian Aboriginal art, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards

Ian W Abdulla
Brook Andrew
Bronwyn Bancroft
Gordon Bennett
Mervyn Bishop -- photographer
Jody Broun
Brenda Croft
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
David Malangi
Banduk Marika
Kunyi June Anne McInerney
Tracey Moffat -- photographer and filmmaker
Sally Morgan
John Moriarty -- his designs have been on Qantas jumbos.
Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri -- (see Papunya Tula)
Albert Namatjira - (see Hermannsburg School)
Rosella Namok
Dorothy Napangardi
Michael Nelson Jakamarra
Naata Nungurrayi
Kathleen Petyarre
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri -- (see Papunya Tula)
Minnie Pwerle
Wenten Rubuntja
Darren Siwes
Paddy Japaljarri Stewart -- (see Papunya Tula)
Rover Thomas
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa
Prince of Wales

Visit [[1]] for more.

Literature

Larissa Behrendt -- activist, lawyer & novelist
Roger Bennett -- playwright
Tony Briggs -- playwright, actor
Jack Davis -- poet & playwright
Wesley Enoch -- playwright
Richard Frankland -- playwright, filmmaker
Kevin Gilbert -- playwright
John Harding -- playwright, poet
Jane Harrison -- playwright
Anita Heiss - novelist
Melissa Lukashenko
Romain Moreton
Sally Morgan
Kevin Morris Tjapaltjarri
Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) -- poet
Boori Monty Prior -- author
Rob Riley
Kim Scott
Samuel Wagan-Watson -- poet
Dr Richard Walley OAM
Herb Wharton -- poet

Music

see also list of Australian Aboriginal musicians

Christine Anu -- singer
Harold Blair -- tenor
Sammy Butcher-- musician
Kev Carmody-- singer & songwriter
Troy Cassar-Daley -- singer & songwriter
Richard Frankland
Cameron Goold
Ruby Langford Ginibi -- singer
Bunna Lawrie -- singer & songwriter
James Henry -- singer
Tom E. Lewis -- actor & singer
Jimmy Little -- crooner
Rita Mills -- singer
Lois Mary Olney -- blues singer
David Page -- composer
Steve Pigram -- singer, songwriter & musician from Broome
Bob Randall -- songwriter
Archie Roach -- singer, songwriter & musician
George Rrurrambu -- singer
Vic Simms -- singer
Warren Wiliams - country singer
Wilga Williams - country singer
Bart Willoughby -- singer

Indigenous bands - past & present

Blekbala Mujik (Blackfella Music) -- band from Arnhem Land
The Briscoe Sisters -- All girl group from Qld
The Bush Kids -- Country/pop from Central Australia
Coloured Stone rock/reggae group from Ceduna
Lajamanu Teenage Band
Local Knowledge -- Hip hop group from Newcastle
The Mills Sisters -- female harmonies from the Torres Strait Islands
No Fixed Address -- reggae/ska/rock band from Ceduna
NoKTuRNL -- hip hop/metal group from Alice Springs
The Pigram Brothers -- country/reggae group from Broome
Saltwater Band -- rock/reggae group from Elcho Island
Scrap Metal -- rock/reggae group from
Shakaya -- two piece girl group
The Stiff Gins -- All girl folk/pop group from Sydney
Tiddas -- All girl folk/pop group from Victoria

Us Mob
Warumpi Band -- rock/reggae group from Papunya
Yothu Yindi -- rock/folk group from Arnhem Land

See also

Dance

Timothy Bishop
Djakapurra Munyarryun
Gupapuygnu Dancers
Stephen Page -- founder of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Frances Rings -- dancer, actor & choreographer

Visit [[2]] for more

Theatre & entertainment

Mark Bin Bakar -- actor & comedian
Kylie Belling -- actor
Wayne Blair -- actor & director
Jack Charles -- actor
Jimmy Chi -- songwriter & playwright
Ernie Dingo -- actor and television personality
David Gulpilil -- actor
Kim Kruger
Ngarla Kunoth -- played title role in Jedda, Australia's first colour motion picture.
Ningili Lawford -- actor and comedian
Deborah Mailman -- actor
Bob Maza -- actor
Rachael Maza - actor & TV presenter
David Ngoombujarra -- actor
Aaron Pederson -- actor & screenwriter
Leah Purcell -- actor
Justine Saunders -- actor
Ivan Sen -- filmmaker
Caitlin Stasey -- actor
Michael Tuahine -- actor

See also Kooemba Jdarra Theatre Company,

Science

David Unaipon -- inventor & writer
Eric Willmot

Religion

Douglas Nicholls -- Pastor with the Churches of Christ in Australia
David Unaipon -- preacher

Historical

Bennelong
Cumbo Gunnerah --"The Red Chief", Red Kangaroo from Gunnedah
Nemarluk -- one of the North's fiercest fighters in defending his country
Pemulwuy -- Member of the Eora people (Botany Bay) area
Tongalongata -- Leader of Tasmanian Aborigal warriors in the Tasmanian Land War.
Truganini -- last surviving full-blooded Tasmanian Aborigine
Tullamareena -- member of Wirundgeri, Melbourne
Tommy Windich -- Western Australian explorer
Yagan -- Western Australian leader in 1830s