First Australians

1975: Living in the Seventies

Look back on life in the 70s including politics, feminism, pop culture, news of the day, and more.

Exhibition

First Nations art on a purple background

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

We have developed an Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocol to guide people on how to access and use ICIP in our collections.

First Australians

Rebecca Bateman, holding the NLA Publication, Wangka Wakanutja, in the National Library of Australia

Rebecca Bateman, and NLA Publication, Wangka Wakanutja.

Learn with the Curators of Wangka Wakaṉutja

Learn from experts who have brought the Wangka Wakanutja exhibition to life.

Event

Yellow poster with the black and white image of a group of children on pavement outside a building with the sign 'Murawina' on it, picture is captioned 'Aboriginal pre-school, Sydney, NSW', above the image the poster is titled 'Just this? - or Justice' in large font, underneath the image at the bottom of the poster says 'National Aborigines Week 7-13 July 1975', in the bottom right hand corner in tiny font is signed 'National Aborigines Day Observance Committee'

Designed by an unknown artist, Just This? — Or Justice: National Aborigines Week, 1975, https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3044575

50 years of NAIDOC

Breakfasts, bold voices, and a groundbreaking poster: step inside the first-ever NAIDOC Week in 1975 and meet the community of women who transformed a local children’s program into a national call for justice.

Blog

Red text reading 'Wangka Wakanutja' on a yellow background

Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

Explore the decades-long, remarkable efforts of the Papunya community to record language and culture and keep it alive.

Exhibition

Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

Vivien Johnson, Charlotte Phillipus and Samantha Disbray

Book

Four framed pictures hanging on a wall that has an image of an island on it.

Mabo v Queensland (No. 2): 30th Anniversary

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision, the Library invited Gail Mabo, Eddie’s daughter, to select material for display to mark this landmark moment in Australian legal history.

Exhibition

First Australians

Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero

Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall and illustrated by Wally Wilfred

Book

Noah Riseman & ANU Press, In defence of country : life stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander servicemen & women (detail), 2016, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6930656

First Nations military service resources

Our resources can help you find out about your family member’s service history.

Research guide

Detail of the cover of 'Bringing them home : the "Stolen children" report' which features in image of a parent and child playing at sunrise

Australian Human Rights Commission, Bringing them home : the "Stolen children" report (1997) (detail), nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6230268

Stolen Generations resources

If you are researching members of your family who were removed from their families under past Australian Government practices, you can find information documenting the experiences of Stolen Generations in our collection.

Research guide

Map of eastern Australia noting where there are organised churches, mission centres and outstations

Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia, A.I.M. field map, 1972, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2848085500

Missions and reserves records

Searching the administrative records of the missions and reserves can help you fill important gaps in your family history.

Research guide

Black and white print of several First Nations people standing in a group, with a man reading from a book in front of them, and several people sitting and watching

Frederick Grosse, Marriage of Aboriginal natives, Corranderk [i.e. Coranderrk], 1873, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136144666

First Nations births, deaths and marriages records

If your family’s births, deaths or marriages have been registered, these records can provide things like the addresses, names, ages and occupations of family members.

Research guide

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