Who owns the past? Aborigines as captives of the archives

Abstract

This chapter uses the term ‘archives’ somewhat liberally to refer to all kinds of collections of information and documents concerning Aborigines, their cultures and affairs, maintained in non-Aboriginal hands. It focuses on three aspects which effectively ensure that ownership and control of Aboriginal historical resources are denied: the distribution of Aboriginal historical resources; problems of access; and issues of legal ownership. Aboriginal people also remain widely ignorant of the existence of records and documents which concern them because the holding institutions have never informed them. Aboriginal heritage legislation around Australia is seriously defective. This legislation does not recognise Aboriginal legal ownership of Aboriginal cultural resources and does not put into effect the principles of self-determination—supposedly official government policy in most states. The liberation of Aboriginal people can only take place with the help of the educated understanding of the non-Aboriginal community which must confront fundamental truths about its own character.

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