Australian First Nations

Summary

"Australian First Nations" is a high level thematic entry that acts as the foundation of a model linking the knowledge of law, culture and country of Indigenous Australians with the history of Western science in Australia, which was the original focus of the Encyclopedia and its predecessors. This theme is an experiment and an embodiment of the tradition of a living archive. As we work with our First Nations' colleagues on the development of this and many related entries, the plan is that bridges and gateways will emerge that will assist individuals and communities with their learning and research.

As this Encyclopedia specifically targets innovation we have found this definiton useful. "Indigenous innovation" refers "to interesting, ingenious and original ways in which Australia's Indigenous peoples have responded to specific challenges, be they environmental, cultural, social, or the result of internal or external influences." [McNiven and Russell (2023) "Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity" p.24].

The link to the entry for David Unaipon (1872-1967) recognises the visionary and leadership roles that he played in both cultural spheres and the bridges he attempted to build. He will remain an enduring inspiration.

Details

As McNiven and Russell (2023, p31) also note: "Every First Nations community had its encyclopedias of knowledge held in the heads of people but expressed physically, symbolically and spiritually across Country, like a vast living library."

The principles and protocols on which this and similar entries are built are fundamentally simple and based on the concept of mutual respect, reciprocal gift exchange and the sharing of knowledge. Billy Griffiths noted in "Deep Time Dreaming" (page 173) in discussing the "Rom" ceremony: "The acceptance of such a gift enmeshes the recipients into a continuous process of reciprocity. As a diplomatic ritual, it formalises bonds and establishes an equal footing upon which both communities can build. It is the extension of a hand of friendship, and it is offered in the hope that knowledge will bring understanding, acceptance, rights and recognition."

As a rule, in the creation of entries of any type, we only work with knowledge that is in the public domain or could be published. Our goal is to systematically reference all the relevant sources we uncover, including archival and museum collections, in a culturally safe manner. We recognise that how language is used and what things are called is an ongoing challenge. In the spirit of the living archive and with the power of relational social and cultural informatics our hope is that this gateway will continously evolve to meet the needs of communities.

An inspiration for this theme is the "First Knowledges" edited by Margo Neal and published by Thames and Hudson progessively since 2021. They are referenced below.

The selected references below are designed to provide a starting point for readers as well as entry points into the existing entries in the Encyclopedia. It should not be surprising that all Australian stories are in some way connected with the history of Western science and innovation, and the First Nations' history of country, its skies and waters.

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Cumpston, Zena; Fletcher, Michael-Shawn; and Head, Lesley, Plants: past, present and future (Port Melbourne: Thames and Hudson, 2022), 212 pp. Details
• Davis, Megan; and Williams, George, Everything you need to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart (Sydney: NewSouth Publishing, 2021), 234 pp. Details
• Gammage, Bill, The Biggest Estate on Earth: how Aborigines Made Australia (Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2011), 434 pp. Details
• Gammage, Bill; and Pascoe, Bruce, Country: future fire, future farming (Port Melbourne: Thames and Hudson, 2021), 211 pp. Details
• Griffiths, Billy, Deep time dreaming: uncovering ancient Australia (Carlton, Vic.: Black Inc., 2018), 376 pp. Details
• Hamacher, Duane, with Elders and knowledge holders: Anderson, Ghillar Michael; Barsa, John; Bosum, David; Day, Ron; Passi, Segar; and Tapim, Alo, The first astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2022), 290 pp. Details
• Langton, Marcia; and Corn, Aaron, Law: the way of the ancestors (Port Melbourne, Vic: Thames and Hudson, 2023), 227 pp. Details
• McKenna, Mark, Return to Uluru: a killing; a hidden history: a story that goes to the heart of the nation (Carlton, Vic.: Black Inc., 2021), 256 pp. Details
• McNiven, Ian J; and Russell, Lynette, Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity (Port Melbourne: Thames and Hudson, 2023), 256 pp. Details
• Neale, Margo; and Kelly, Lynne, Songlines: the power and promise (Port Melbourne, Vic.: Thames and Hudson, 2021), 207 pp. Details
• Noon, Karlie; and de Napoli, Krystal, Astronomy: sky country (Port Melbourne: Thames and Hudson, 2022), 195 pp. Details
• Page, Alison; and Memmott, Paul, Design: building on country (Port Melbourne, Vic.: Thames and Hudson, 2021), 291 pp. Details
• Unaipon, David: edited by Muecke, Stephen and Shoemaker, Adam, Legendary tales of the Australian Aborigines (Carlton, Vic.: Miegunyah Press, 2006), 232 pp. Details

Edited Books

• Arthur, Bill; Morphy, Frances ed., Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia (Sydeny, New South Wales: Macquarie Dictionary Publishers (Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd), 2019), 293 pp. Details