Return of native title materials

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their representatives have created an enormous amount of research as a result of the native title system.

Native title claim materials include information on genealogies, languages, laws and customs and areas of significance. They are vitally important to current and future members of native title groups and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities because of their historical, cultural, personal and economic value.

These materials are essential for future decision-making and can support, for example, good governance, knowledge transmission to young people and future generations, language programs, cultural heritage protection, environmental conservation and land management.

Many PBCs, on behalf of the native title group, want to have control of research materials which will ideally contribute to their independence and long-term sustainability.

Karajarrii PBC member Jessica Bangu adding metadata to a previously undescribed collection at AIATSIS. Photo: Tran Tran

However, the management of these materials represents an ongoing challenge for native title groups and their representatives including Native Title Representative Bodies and Service Providers (NTRB/SPs) and PBCs.

The Returning Native Title Materials (RNTM) project explores the use of materials collected through the native title process, including storage, proper access and most importantly, returning to native title groups.

Three home and garage archives housing 40 years of native title and land claims research. Photos: Daniel Vachon, David Parsons and Toni Bauman

AIATSIS will share resources, such as workshop reports, presentations and templates, on the best practice for issues relating to native title materials including, good governance, archiving, and legal concerns. They will also share learnings from NTRB/SPs and PBCs who have engaged in a returns process.

The NTRU is partnering with NTRB/SPs, PBCs and research institutions, including Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Robe Rive Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation, La Trobe University and Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, on a number of case studies.

Further resources:

Case studies:

• The Returns Process: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) and Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation (RRKAC)
• Aboriginal Land Rights in the Northern Territory: Documenting and Preserving the Records and Memories
• A digital approach: Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation

Case study reports and presentations:

• A digital approach: Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) case study report, C Keller et al, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2021
• Aboriginal land claims in the Northern Territory: Documenting and preserving the records and memories, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2021
• Aboriginal land claims in the Northern Territory: Documenting and preserving the records and memories, T Bauman and D Parsons, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2019
• Returning native title Materials: YMAC workshop summary, C Keller and S Little, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2020
• Returning native title Materials: RRKAC workshop summary, C Keller and J Paul, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2020
• Joint return of materials presentation, St James et. al., YMAC & RRKAC, AIATSIS Summit, Adelaide, 2021

Further reading and resources:

• Returning native title materials - 30 years in the too hard basket, presentation, L Strelein and C Keller, AIATSIS, 2021
• Metadata and digital files, guide, AIATSIS, 2021
• Metadata, fact sheet, AIATSIS, 2021
• Legal issues in transferring research materials from NTRB/SPs to RNTBCs, Angus Frith, AIATSIS, AIATSIS Summit, Adelaide, 2021
• First glance: A draft template for surveying your land and native title claim archives, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2021
• Outcomes from a workshop on managing information in native title, Ludger Dinkler, presentation at National Native Title Conference, Port Douglas, 16 June 2015
• Managing Information in native title: survey and workshop report, PF MCGrath and A Andriolo, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2015
• History and native title: The making of a community asset, M Benett and G Koch, AIATSIS Canberra, 2007
• Report on workshop for NTRBs on databases and access and use issues, G Koch, AIATSIS Canberra, 2006
• Brief list of online resources for preservation and information on Indigenous studies, G Koch, AIATSIS Canberra, 2005
• Report on breakout session: The future of connection material, G Koch, AIATSIS Canberra, 2005
• Report on survey of NTRBs (April-May 2005) , G Koch, AIATSIS Canberra, 2005
• Anthropology and connection reports in native title claim applications, J Finlayson, AIATSIS Canberra, 2001