Voicing the Living Archive: Working with First Nations collections in higher education

Universities have historically held and acquired collections of First Nations cultures in various iterations such as art, archives, and cultural material.  Increasingly these collections have been employed for reconnection and reconciliation, uncovering old perspectives, and creating new narratives that utilise interdisciplinary approaches with First Nations perspectives to amplify the voices of the makers.

This symposium will highlight some of the recent projects that focus and examine First Nations collections across different areas of universities from researchers to students. It will include a panel discussion and a workshop to get ideas flowing with the objective of sharing experiences working with First Nations collections in research or teaching within universities.

Organising committee: Dr Wendy Somerville, Hakim Rahim Abdul and Katie Hayne

This event is supported by the International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections (ICOM-UMAC) and the Centre for Creative & Cultural Research, University of Canberra.

Professor Sandy O’Sullivan

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Sandy O’Sullivan (they/them), a transgender Wiradjuri person. They lead the Intimacies theme of the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures and they work in the Department of Critical Indigenous Studies, both housed at Macquarie University. They are a 2020-2025 ARC Senior Future Fellow with the program titled: Saving Lives: mapping the influence of Indigenous LGBTIQ+ creative artists.

This nationally funded work follows on from another major ARC project that explored representation and engagement of Indigenous peoples and communities across national museums – a program that ran for eight years and reviewed 470 museums. Since 1991 they’ve taught and researched across gender and sexuality, education, museums, the body, creativities and First Nations’ identity.

Sandy has been a musician, performer and sound artist since 1982, holding national and international residencies.

Thursday 18 July 2024

9.30       Welcome

9.45       Introduction. Wendy Somerville, University of Canberra

10.15    Keynote Speaker Sandy O’Sullivan, Macquarie University

11.00    Morning Tea

11.30    Andrew Simpson, University Museums and Collections 

12.00    Rose Barrowcliff, Macquarie University

12.30    Brad Webb, Monash University

1.00       Lunch

1.30       Wander to Ngunnawal Garden

2.00       Ashley Van Den Heuvel & Delephene Fraser, University of Canberra

2.30       Grace Zhang

3.00       Afternoon tea

3.15       Panel Discussion. ‘On the future of university collections’

4.15       Conclusion 

4.30       Networking event

Friday 19 July 2024

Our Collection

10.00    Introduction. Hakim Abdul Rahim

10.30    Conservation lab viewing and talk

11.00    Workshop – Teaching with the Collection, Andi Stapp-Gaunt

1.00       Light lunch

1.30       Welcome ceremony for the Collection

Places to stay near the University of Canberra

• Mercure Belconnen
• Abode Belconnen
• Ramada Belconnen

Getting to the University of Canberra

• Canberra public transport
• Parking on campus
• Campus maps