Reclaiming archives: guest editorial

Abstract

Abstract Highlighting perspectives from First Nations peoples whose cultural heritage is held in archives of various types, this article sets the scene for this special edition on “Reclaiming Archives.” Emerging protocols for Indigenous community engagement with archiving institutions have been driven by community demands for access, digitisation and return of archival cultural heritage records, and supported by various peak professional organisations such as the International Council on Archives, the International Council of Museums and the Indigenous Archives Collective. A complex history of exploitation, resistance and trauma surrounds First Nations cultural records created during Australia“s “Assimilation Era“ (roughly 1935-1975), and several contributions to the volume explore the implications of this colonial past for management and reclamation of such archival records today. Indeed, the authors contend that institutions today have much to learn from engagement with community members seeking to reappropriate their cultural records. The essay finishes by relating the issues outlined above to the articles presented in this issue, which provide perspectives from Australia and internationally regarding Indigenous cultural collections, with special reference to research-based collections of Indigenous music and dance.