Museums and Indigenous People in Australia: A review of Previous Possessions, New Obligations

Museums and Indigenous People in Australia: A review of Previous Possessions, New Obligations Journal

Citation: Sullivan, T., Kelly, L. and Gordon P.. 2003. Museums and Indigenous People in Australia: A review of Previous Possessions, New Obligations. Curator. 46. (2): 208-277.

Abstract:

Previous Possessions, New Obligations was launched by Museums Australia Inc. in 1993, the International Year for the World's Indigenous People, as a policy framework to guide the development of relationships between museums in Australia and Indigenous Australians. The policy was based on consultation with Indigenous people to develop protocols, policies and procedures for more sensitive collection management and for including Indigenous people in research and public programs; and to address issues of governance. It expressed the values that would underpin new relationships between museums in Australia and Indigenous Australians.

An evaluation of the policy was conducted in 2000 in a collaboration between the Australian Museum Audience Research Centre, Sydney, and Museums Australia Inc., Canberra. The evaluation found that the policy had substantially met its goals, particularly in establishing the primary rights of Indigenous people to control their cultural material in museum collections. However, a range of substantially new issues emerged which require new policy responses and initiatives.

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Last Updated: 2 March 2011

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2 comments

STAFF

Lynda Kelly
4.11 PM, 02 November 2009

Hi Mel and thanks for your comment. That article can be obtained from any library that has the Curator journal - the Australian Museum library has it and also Sydney University has all Curator journals. Most libraries woudl also do you an interlibrary loan. Let me know if you need further assistance by sending me a message via my staff profile.