The Jumbunna Research Archive developed out of a two-day staff retreat in 2023, when our team began asking questions about how we began. By building partnerships with communities on Country, both in Australia and internationally, we are working to fill the gaps in our story. This project reflects cultural values such as truth-telling, data sovereignty, and ethical stewardship. It’s about making sure Indigenous knowledge systems are respected, protected, and carried forward.
Purpose and Significance
The archive aims to become a living archive that celebrates leadership, projects, and collaborations, while ensuring Indigenous stories are cared for now and in the future. The strength of this project lies in preserving the stories of the people who established the Jumbunna Research Indigenous House of Learning, capturing how it was formed as part of Australia’s national history. Supporting the multiple projects we work across, the archive will provide a central access point, while telling the stories of our research and its impact. For our partnerships with communities, it will keep a record of collaboration stories, care for materials on request by communities, and preserve stories as an evidence base for future research.
Looking Forward to Reflection from Community
Community feedback has long highlighted the need for ethical stewardship in caring for these histories which are part of a broader national story. Given the importance of accessing and managing this content in ways that respect cultural protocols and in culturally safe ways, the Jumbunna Research Archive is guaranteeing that the people represented in these histories retain control over their stories and how they are shared.
Ethical and Cultural Considerations
The archive is informed by key principles that uphold Indigenous rights and cultural heritage. These include the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to maintain, control, protect, and develop their cultural heritage and knowledge. It respects Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and adheres to the ATSILIRN Protocols for Libraries, Archives, and Information Services. It also aligns with IDSov and IDGov principles articulated by the Maiam nayri Wingara Collective.