Why an Archive?
The Jumbunna Research Archive emerged from a two-day staff retreat in 2023, when the team reflected on Jumbunna's history and asked a simple question: how did we get here?
Since its establishment, Jumbunna Research has played a significant role in Indigenous research, education, advocacy, and community engagement. The archive seeks to document this history by bringing together records, stories, research, publications, and reflections that capture the people, projects, and partnerships that have shaped Jumbunna over time.
Grounded in principles of truth-telling, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and ethical stewardship, this Digital Archive aims to ensure that Jumbunna's history is preserved, understood, and accessible for future generations.
Capturing the Jumbunna Story
The archive is a living record of Jumbunna's journey. It documents the development of the Indigenous House of Learning, the growth of Jumbunna Research, and the contributions of the people whose leadership, research, and advocacy have shaped its direction.
As a central point of access for historical and contemporary materials, the archive highlights the impact of Jumbunna's work across research, policy, education, and community engagement. It also supports future scholarship by preserving an evidence base of the ideas, collaborations, and achievements that continue to influence Indigenous affairs in Australia.
More Than a Collection
The Jumbunna Research Archive is more than a repository of records. It is a place for reflection, memory, and knowledge sharing. By bringing together diverse materials from across Jumbunna's history, the archive helps tell the story of an institution that has contributed to Indigenous-led research, social justice, and self-determination for more than three decades.
Guided by Indigenous Governance
The archive is committed to managing materials in ways that respect Indigenous rights, cultural authority, and community expectations. The archive seeks to ensure that individuals and communities represented in these records retain agency over how their stories, knowledge, and contributions are represented and shared.
Built on Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles
The Jumbunna Research Archive is informed by national and international frameworks that recognise Indigenous peoples' rights to control, protect, and manage their knowledge and cultural heritage. These include:
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) principles
- ATSILIRN Protocols for Libraries, Archives and Information Services
- Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and Indigenous Data Governance (IDGov) principles, including those articulated by Maiam nayri Wingara
These frameworks guide how materials are collected, preserved, governed, and shared, ensuring that Indigenous knowledges are cared for respectfully and responsibly.