Indigenous archives: decolonising practices in libraries and archives in Australia

Libraries and archives are vital points of access for every local community. However, these institutions have not always been welcoming to Indigenous people. They are places of deep tension and distrust while also being places that offer people access to cultural heritage materials and other important information sources.

This presentation will discuss moves to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s self-determination and sovereignty in Australian libraries and archives. It will reflect on current practices to support Indigenous engagement and will question whether decolonisation is possible within the current frameworks and normative practices within the field.

Kirsten will share her experiences of being an Aboriginal person (Worimi, Port Stephens) contributing to the development of protocols to support more culturally appropriate engagement and discuss findings from her doctoral research Unclasping the White Hand: Reclaiming and Refiguring the Archives to Support Indigenous Wellbeing and Sovereignty.

The presentation will allow participants to reflect on their professional and institutional practices to consider Indigenous peoples' and other diverse communities’ information and archiving needs.

PKSB Subject Headings

This webinar supports the following PKSB headings:

• Ethics & Values
• Records Management and archiving
• Research
  
  

Biography

Kirsten Thorpe (Worimi, Port Stephens) is a Senior Researcher at Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research, University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Kirsten has broad interests in research and engagement with Indigenous protocols and decolonising practices in the library and archive field.
Kirsten advocates for the 'right of reply' to records and capacity building and support for the development of local Indigenous digital keeping places. Kirsten is a PhD Candidate at Monash University, Faculty of Information Technology where she recently submitted her thesis titled "Unclasping the White Hand: Reclaiming and Refiguring the Archives to Support Indigenous Wellbeing and Sovereignty".

In 2021, Kirsten also released a research report on the project National Survey into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Australian Libraries which looks at gaps and opportunities for Indigenous engagement in the Australian library sector. 

CILIP Members = Free

Non Members = £25 + VAT

If you are a non-member employee of an Employer Partner please contact your rep for a discount code.

Places are limited so register now to avoid disappointment

 Register now