13c Learning Through Language: a Case Study of Queensland State Archives' Indigenous Languages Project
Tracks
Developing Practices
| Wednesday, October 19, 2022 |
| 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM |
Presentation Type
Traditional Paper --- Moderator Dr Jessie Lymn
Session Information
What is an archive to a community? The three papers in session 13 describe different archives and different initiatives, different from each other and from the purpose of the initiative: an archive embedded in Country and its people, who contextualise, maintain and develop it using their knowledge and a pusillanimous system; a ‘mega-archive’ comprised of many discrete archives within the over-arching framework of a single, volunteer-run organisation; and colonial re-positioning itself to enable truth-telling and improve its own practices.
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Desmond Crump
School of Languages and Cultures, University of Queensland
Learning through language: a case study of Queensland State Archives' Indigenous Languages Project
Mr David Paterson
Manager, Engagement
Queensland State Archives
Learning through language: a case study of Queensland State Archives' Indigenous Languages Project
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Co-presented by David Paterson, Queensland State Archives, and Language Researcher and Gamillaroi man Des Crump
As part of Queensland State Archives’ First Nations First program, in 2021 QSA commenced an Indigenous Languages Project. The project aims to support the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty initiative, and take up the themes of the Tandanya Declaration. Accordingly, the project objectives include, building relationships with communities and language organisations, gaining a better understanding of the language-related records in the QSA collection, and making language records more accessible, particularly for language workers, organisations and First Nations communities. Like other state-based archival institutions around Australia, Queensland State Archives’ records have been created by colonisers. Our records regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are records about First Nations peoples, not created by First Nations peoples. Coupled with the traditional role of archives – a preserved and managed passive collection of documented history – this creates a number of challenges. Language is active; it is the enacting of a culture. The speaking, learning and teaching of languages, and the development of language programs demands agency and ownership. How do colonial collections deal with these challenges? This case study will look at how Queensland State Archives has approached its Indigenous Languages Project, what we have learnt, the missteps we’ve taken, the rests we’ve needed to stop and reflect, the advice we’ve relied on, and the small but notable steps forward we’ve made. Community engagement is key, trust and relationship building vital, and re-evaluating conventional models of archival access is highly recommended!
As part of Queensland State Archives’ First Nations First program, in 2021 QSA commenced an Indigenous Languages Project. The project aims to support the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty initiative, and take up the themes of the Tandanya Declaration. Accordingly, the project objectives include, building relationships with communities and language organisations, gaining a better understanding of the language-related records in the QSA collection, and making language records more accessible, particularly for language workers, organisations and First Nations communities. Like other state-based archival institutions around Australia, Queensland State Archives’ records have been created by colonisers. Our records regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are records about First Nations peoples, not created by First Nations peoples. Coupled with the traditional role of archives – a preserved and managed passive collection of documented history – this creates a number of challenges. Language is active; it is the enacting of a culture. The speaking, learning and teaching of languages, and the development of language programs demands agency and ownership. How do colonial collections deal with these challenges? This case study will look at how Queensland State Archives has approached its Indigenous Languages Project, what we have learnt, the missteps we’ve taken, the rests we’ve needed to stop and reflect, the advice we’ve relied on, and the small but notable steps forward we’ve made. Community engagement is key, trust and relationship building vital, and re-evaluating conventional models of archival access is highly recommended!
