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Projects and activities
New Research
GOES TO AIR ON SBS TV ON SUNDAY THE 27TH MAY, 8.30PM
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VOTE YES for Aborigines is a documentary about the 1967 Referendum and the fight for citizenship rights for Aborigines. It marks the 40th anniversary of the occasion, celebrating its historical significance and contemporary relevance.
While many people believe that the 1967 Referendum gave Aborigines the right to vote, in fact the Referendum removed two sections of the constitution that discriminated against Aborigines. With the highest YES vote in Australia 's history, 90.77% of voters agreed that Aborigines be counted in the census and that the Commonwealth Government take charge of Aboriginal affairs, effectively acknowledging Aboriginal people as citizens within their own country.
Aborigines had fought for citizenship rights for over a century but it was the coming together of the many Aboriginal associations and leagues in 1958 to form a national body that finally gave impetus to the struggle. The Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders or FCAATSI attracted both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal membership and support from across all sections of Australian society.
For ten years they campaigned to convince the public and politicians of the need for Constitutional change. They capitalised on the global condemnation of Australia 's treatment of its indigenous people and the media's growing interest in Aboriginal issues. The "Freedom Rides" of 1965 and the Gurindji strike at Wave Hill in 1966 highlighted Aboriginal living and working conditions and helped advance the crusade to set things right for indigenous Australians.
VOTE YES for Aborigines revisits those involved with the 1967 referendum and the social attitudes and influences that led to the event, featuring former Prime Ministers, politicians, historians and campaigners.
More than just marking a time in history, VOTE YES for Aborigines interrogates the success of the Referendum and addresses current debates about what is meant by Australian citizenship and values and how they relate, if at all to Aboriginal history, identity, and culture.
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In response to our Workshop 'Is it Possible to Write a Deep Time History of Australia?' we have been developing a research project proposal using Lake Mungo/Willandra Lakes as a focus study. Thanks to Michael Pickering, Ingereth Macfarlane, Karen Fox, Adam Shoemaker, Dave Johnston, Sharon Sullivan, Isabel McBryde and Laurajane Smith for their helpful input into this Bibliography.
Access to the Bibliography and Transcript of Workshop are available to be downloaded here.
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Film based on the Life of Gordon Briscoe by Wonderland Productions
Wonderland Productions are currently in production of a biography of Dr Gordon Briscoe. The film will cover his childhood memories, and growing up in the missionary system and other interesting aspects of his life.
Watch this space for more details as they become available. |
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People of the Cedar
First Nations Art from the Northwest Coast of Canada
Was exhibited in the Gallery of First Australia, National Museum of Australia, form 2 March to 28 May. This was a joint PhD project between the Museum and the Australian Centre for Indigenous History. It was opened by Banduk Marika, accompanied by a forum on 2 March and followed by Dialogue Canada as part of the Federation Dialogues series on 5 March 2006, broadcast on ABC Radio National.
People of the Cedar was an inspired collaboration between the Museum and the Canadian High Commission in Canberra,. It brought together five Australian-based collections. It is the first of its kind in Australia. Rocque Berthiaume (co-curator from the University of British Columbia) spent his time as a VF on this project. |
Chief Investigators:
Ann McGrath,
Margo Neale, Frances Peters-Little
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Unsettling Histories:
Australian Indigenous Modes of Historical Practice
ARC Discovery project
This major investigation into Indigenous Australian historical practices seeks to
find fresh perspectives and constructive methods of collaboration and
historical innovation. By extending Nabokov's work on American Indian 'ways
of history', this trans-national project explores multi-dimensional and
sensory modes of historical delivery. These include visual, musical,
material culture, museum and 'traveling through country' mediums. Outcomes
include a major book, exhibition briefs and collections papers, significant
historical exchange meetings, content for a television series and website.
Collaborative research between academic and community-based experts and
performers will provide new understandings of Indigenous history and signal
future directions for rethinking historical practices.
Outcomes
Our Community, A Great Place to Be
This photographic exhibition was held in the Gallery of first Australians at the National Museum of Australia in mid 2005, focusing on diversity and community at Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Angledool. The photographs can be seen here.
Our Community is also now an award winning filmdirected by Sean Kennedy and produced by Frances Peters-Little. Read more here.
A Frontier Conversation
This film centres around discussions about modes of history telling between white historians and Indigenous people in the Northern Territory and was narrated by Professor Ann McGrath, Director of ACIH. More details here. |
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Australian Indigenous Collectors and Collections
ARC Linkage project
Chief Investigators:
Ann McGrath, ACIH, Tom Griffiths, History Program, RSSS, Margo Neale, National Museum of Australia
APA(I) Scholar: Christine Hansen
This project considers Indigenous people's contemporary roles in shaping private and public collections, and the influence of historical circumstances and ideas of communal ownership and responsibility. It therefore subverts the dominant emphasis upon Europeans as collectors and appropriators of indigenous objects. By considering Indigenous people as collectors, curators and presenters of beloved objects, this project will offer major new perspectives on Australian Indigenous history and museology. By exploring the power of material objects in cultural identity and historical consciousness, this project disrupts the stereotype of Indigenous people as purely ‘museum victims’. |
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