After years of campaigning for better representation in the digital space, Indigenous Australians are set to have access to a new collection of custom-made 'Indigemojis'.
The emojis are part of a new app created by Ingeous Studios, with the help of young Aboriginal people who designed the images during a series of workshops in central Australia over the past year.
“Soon you will be pushing out Australia’s first set of Indigenous emojis, made by young people on Arrernte country in Mparntwe/Alice Springs,” the company wrote on its Facebook page.
Included in the 19 emojis are the Aboriginal flag, boomerang, dingo, Uluru, and a number of other images including a heart, a hand and a crown.
Indigenous Studios said it had the permission of Luritja artist Harold Thomas, the owner of the copyright for the Aboriginal flag, to use his design in the emojis.
Since teasing the drop on Thursday, the social media post has attracted close to 10,000 likes, shares and comments - almost all of the reaction positive.
Several commenters asked if the collection also includes Torres Strait Islander icons, to which Ingeous Studios said it would look to create those "in the future".
According to the Indigemoji website, the emojis were designed to “inspire young people to decolonise their digital spaces.”
“It’s a chance to grow digital skills, while learning and sharing Arrernte language and culture in a whole new way,” Indigemoji said.
The new emojis will be released for free via an Android app in the next two weeks, with an iOS version slated for later this year.
