First Nations Community Access to Archives

The Archival materials held by Australian Museum (AM) contain information relating to First Nations People’s Kinship, Stories, Cultures and Languages. This partnership between Australian Museum (AM) and Aboriginal Languages Trust (ALT) acknowledges First Nations People’s rights to all aspects of their cultural heritage, Traditional Knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. In the Museum context, cultural heritage comprises objects, site records, knowledges written in archives, journals and AM systems that has been built up over 200 years.

The AM Collection includes 22 million collection items spanning cultural collections, natural and geo-science specimen collections as well as archives. The six AM cultural collections span Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands Cultural Collections, Aboriginal Archaeology, Pasifika Cultural Collections, World Cultures Collection, Rare Books Library and Archives. The AM Archives comprises 1,500 linear meters or approximately 1 million items. 

First Nations Community Access to Archives (FNCAA) project objectives:

1. Improve First Nations Communities’ access to archive materials for Language revitalisation purposes. The AM Collection includes Cultural and Language materials originating from First Nations Peoples of NSW.
2. Improve First Nations Peoples’ experience accessing archival material to support Languages learning through the Agency and AM working collaboratively.
3. Build the First Nations archivist and museum workforce. Having a team of skilled and qualified First Nations archivists and museum experts working within AM will support First Nations Communities to access materials about their Kinship, Stories, Cultures and Languages in way that is a culturally appropriate.