50 years of culture and collections

In 1964 the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, now known as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), was established to collect information about Australia’s Indigenous cultures. Now, 50 years on, AIATSIS holds the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander print, audio and visual materials. And continues to research, collect and preserve Indigenous history, culture and languages from the past and present.

Earlier this year, the AIATSIS Commemorative Coin was launched to specifically mark the 50th anniversary of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

At a recent address to the National Press Club, AIATSIS Chairperson Professor Mick Dodson explained the history and importance of maintaining the AIATSIS collections.

"For the past fifty years, the Commonwealth has had a national institution dedicated to the role of capturing one of the world’s most significant legacies to humanity. That is the history, culture, languages, knowledge, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Of capturing the past and present of the longest continuous culture in the world we know," Professor Dodson said.

The AIATSIS vault holds over six million feet of film and over 40,000 hours of unique audio. The Institute also holds 12,800 unpublished manuscripts and record series, 653,000 still images, 120,000 print and published including 3,000 rare books as well as educational kits, maps and posters, language materials, government reports, serials and art catalogues.

“The collection includes the only recorded sound of many languages of Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, and it contains a recording of my grandfather, Paddy Djaiween telling Yawuru stories and singing ancient Yawuru songs,” Professor Dodson said.

Over the past 50 years, materials in the AIATSIS collection have been gathered by many Indigenous and non-Indigenous anthropologists, archaeologists and linguists and from many research activities including native title work.

“Much has been built up from our native title work with communities where we research culture, heritage, kinship, and trade, economy, medicine, natural resources and more,” Professor Dodson said.

AIATSIS has plans to launch a charitable foundation which will aim to give all Australians the opportunity to learn in much greater depth of the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.