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First Australians

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Reconciliation Day: First Nations family history tour

The National Library is proud to participate in Reconciliation Day. This is an introduction to the First Nations family history resources we offer.

Event
An illustration of black pen on green paper of a snake wrapped around a boom box. This is pictured beside an exhibition sign in a gallery.

(L) Kulata Dennis Nelson and Papunya Literature Production Centre, Pijkatj anta rikulta [The snake and the recorder], 1990, nla.obj-3286603500; (R) Wangka Wakanutja exhibition signage at the entrance to the Library's gallery

Reconciliation Day: Wangka Wakanutja exhibition tours

The National Library is proud to participate in Reconciliation Day. Our expert curators ran a free guided tour of our major exhibition Wangka Wakanutja.

Event
A split image featuring two women. On the left, a woman with curly hair and a black hat wears a t-shirt with Aboriginal art and the text 'For Our Elders'. On the right, a smiling woman with curly hair and large earrings stands in front of artwork. A circular logo for 'Wilay Designs' with two illustrated possums is centered between them.
School holiday activity: Connecting to Country through art

These holidays, celebrate art, culture, and storytelling with Ngunawal artists Jazz and Kristal Matthews from Wilay Designs. During the session, participants will explore the Wangka Wakanutja exhibition to be inspired by the Papunya Community’s remarkable publishing and artistic output.

Event
Cover of the book 'Sorry Day'
Sorry Day

Coral Vass and Dub Leffler

Book
First Australians
NLA Publishing book
Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue sitting in an armchair and smiling

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, image by Leanna King, courtesy of the Lowitja Institute

Speeches of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue now available online

The Library has recently digitised the speeches of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG.

News article
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
Cover of the book 'Strangers on Country'
Strangers on Country

David Hartley and Kirsty Murray. Illustrated by Dub Leffler

Book
First Australians
NLA Publishing book
A campaign poster for the 1967 Australian referendum, featuring a close-up photograph of a young Aboriginal child with a serious expression. The text on the poster reads: 'YES for Aborigines. Write YES for Aborigines in the lower square. May 27th. Authorized by Faith Bandler, 13 Kens Road, Frenchs Forest.'

Faith Bandler and Jerry Rind, Yes for Aborigines : write yes for Aborigines in the lower square May 27th, 1967, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136875607

The 1967 Referendum

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 10 students. It engages students with a rich selection of sources and challenges them to draw their own conclusions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ struggle for civil rights in Australia.

Digital Classroom
First Australians
A black and white photo showing how two half shells and the round pieces cut out of them

Frank Hurley, [Cut shell] showing the method of cutting shells commercially, 1921, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-149364077

Torres Strait Islander conservation

Module

Engaging students with a rich selection of sources and challenges them to draw their own conclusions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ approaches to custodial responsibility and environmental management in different regions of Australia.

Digital Classroom
First Australians
A black and white photo of a man playing a guitar on a boat

Frank Hurley, A diver entertains while on his way to the fishing grounds, 1910, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-157724827

Torres Strait Islands collection research guide

Highlights collection items in our catalogue from the 5 major island clusters in the Torres Straits Region.

First Australians
Research guide
Red text reading 'Wangka Wakanutja' on a yellow background
Wangka Wakanutja – The Papunya Readers

Module
This Digital Classroom module invites students and teachers to explore the Papunya readers. Aligned with the Australian Curriculum: HASS, English and The Arts and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority, this resource encourages students to learn about Country, language, storytelling and the purposes stories serve.

Digital Classroom
Cover of 'Wangka Wakanutja: The story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre' by Vivien Johnson, Charlotte Phillipus and Samantha Disbray
Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

Vivien Johnson, Charlotte Phillipus and Samantha Disbray
This landmark publication documents the full story behind the extraordinary literary movement at Papunya.

Book

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