Clashes in conservation: First Nations sites, communities and culture in Australian cultural heritage management

Abstract

In the context of Australian cultural heritage management, conservation can contribute to the decolonisation of the sector by prioritising truth telling, repatriation and reconciliation when working with First Nations cultural heritage. Reflecting on a recent instance in which the heritage site Juukan Gorge was destroyed, we emphasise that the destruction of cultural heritage can create opportunities for change. Recognising the impact of dissociation as an agent of deterioration, we highlight community-led initiatives conserving First Nations cultural heritage within a variety of institutions and environments. The case studies examined reveal the value of a holistic approach to the conservation of cultural materials and how conservation can be a conduit for reconciling the relationships between Western and First Nations cultural heritage values and practices.