Stolen Generations - Archivists personal connections

[Tom A. Adami]

Dear all

Does anyone have any personal connections to the stolen generations inquiries and any of the archives that contain the resulting archival materials? I am interested in either literature or anecdotes about how archives can be cathartic when as archivists we come across or manage material that personally effects us. I can imagine the possible personal impact in the case of the Stasi archives how a former East German citizen who now works as an archivist may come across personal data in the archives. In the case of the 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi and the judicial archives of the ICTR that resulted, we are trying to establish such personal connections and are trying to analyse the impact this process may have on users of the archives.  

I'm very interested in the impact of such encounters on those within our profession and in this case as it relates to the stolen generations archives in Australia. 

Please feel free to respond to me directly or to this public discussion.

best regards,

Tom A. Adami
Archivist, Head MARS Arusha
Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals
Arusha International Conference Centre
PO Box 6016, Arusha, Tanzania

[phone]
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[e-mail]

 

[Rebecca Bateman]

Hi Tom, I can very much relate to this. I work at the National Archives of Australia in the Indigenous Unit and my grandfather, mother and siblings were members of the stolen generations. My personal experience very much informs and drives my work and, conversely, my work has had an impact on the way in which I understand and feel about my family's experiences. I would be happy for you to contact me if you think it would be helpful

[Kylie Scroope]

Hi Tom,

there are a number of former staff of the National Archives of Australia who worked very closely with a group of stolen generations people who generously allowed their individual stories to be told for the Between Two Worlds exhibition in the 1990s. The exhibition included archival documents which were directly relevant to their individual circumstances, as well as the broader policy and administrative records related to Commonwealth involvement in the removal of children from their families. I have many vivid memories from my involvement with this exhibition and interactions with the people whose stories were told, and would count it as being one of the most significant projects of my working life, but there are other people who played a much more important part than me. There is an article at    http://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/download/12404/13500 which may be of interest.

Peter Read http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=fullView&am... might also be a useful person for you to try and make contact with.

If you'd like to follow up further offline I can be contacted at [e-mail]

[Kathy Bowrey]

Hi Tom

I worked on the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody RC and also with a member of the Stolen Generation whose evidence was published by a non- Indigenous person. It is a very difficult area and often retraumatising for those involved and traumatising for the the staff engaged to help. There is also a very problematic legal framework around access. I have written about this and some concerns about opening up access to this kind of material if you would like me to send the article.

[e-mail]

Kathy Bowrey

[Barbara Reed]

Hi Tom

Yes, this issue has come up in relation to lots of things. I did some investigations around this in relation to access to information by Forgotten Australians and other Care Leavers, who - of course- also include members of the Stolen Generation. There's work in the US and at a recent ACA conference about how these issues affects archivists personally, which although of some importance, is surely not as important as the affect on the record subject themselves.

Feel free to get in touch [e-mail]

barbara