Interrogating the archive: First Nations perspectives

First Nations communities have long engaged with archives as both sources of knowledge and sites of harm. This lecture invites critical reflection on the role of libraries in colonial record-keeping, and on the powerful work of re-reading and reframing these collections today. Through Indigenous-led approaches, it examines how archives can support cultural truth-telling and new forms of sovereignty.

This lecture is part of a series curated by Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville, reflecting on the history of the State Library of NSW. From the founding stories of this iconic institution to its evolution across 200 years, the series examines how libraries collect, preserve and share knowledge, imagination and creativity across generations.