Qld: Don't call us Kanakas
South Sea Islander Australians have urged people to stop describing them as Kanakas,saying the word is derogatory.
The Polynesian term for man was used to describe thousands of South Sea Islanders usedas slave labour in Queensland's sugarcane fields.
Their descendants still living in north Queensland's sugar belt say people use theterm without realising many islanders find it offensive.
Burdekin South Sea Islander Organisation spokeswoman JOYCE HENAWAY says Kanaka is aword hijacked by Europeans.
And ROWENA TRIEVE from the Mackay and District Australian South Sea Islander Association,which represents 6,000 people, says dislike of the word began generations ago.
Some islanders also want authorities to drop Kanaka as a place name.
The Geoscience Australia website says there are two Kanaka Creeks and one Kanakas ReleaseCreek in north Queensland.
AAP RTV jb/sc/dl/rp
KEYWORD: KANAKA (TOWNSVILLE)
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