Clinton Hayden

It’s Sorry Day and Reconciliation week  and I’m reminded again that language matters. White people tell me this constantly. Use the right language. Tone it… Clinton Hayden writes, why language matters when talking about affairs that affect First Nations peoples. This article includes the names of Aboriginal People who have died, and mentions instances of racism. History has been made with the announcement of the…

Clinton Hayden writes, why language matters when talking about affairs that affect First Nations peoples. Public reconciliation discourse relies heavily on metaphor to mobilise participation and signal ethical commitment. Phrases such as “closing the gap”, “walking together” and “bridge-building” frame reconciliation through ideas of movement, repair and shared responsibility. So why are we now seeing gambling-derived language, specifically the phrase “go all in”?

History was made at the 2025 Miss First Nation Drag Pageant last week, when Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi Draglesque performer Kitty Obsidian was the first competitor and winner in the Miss First Nations pageant who was assigned female at birth. This week, Kitty continues their hobby of history making by being the first Aboriginal burlesque performer to be part of The Black Burlesque Festival in London.