CAARA Members recommit to the aims of the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration

The Tandanya Declaration calls for the recognition of Indigenous ownership over cultural heritage and knowledge.

It is a targeted call to action for archival institutions to make change – to take the steps needed to acknowledge and respect Indigenous rights and ways of knowing, being and understanding – to build and embed culturally appropriate services, spaces, resources and systems that support First Nations rights, shift historical power imbalances and provide opportunities for healing.

Archives are important for First Nations peoples, helping to preserve cultural heritage, history, and identity for future generations.

Archives hold vital records that enable communities to reconnect with ancestors, as well as traditional knowledge, languages, knowledge and customs.

Through access and right of reply to these records, First Nations peoples can reclaim narratives and be empowered to control representation, interpretation and benefit from the use of cultural knowledge and heritage.

Artwork:

Brown Country by Bunya Designs – Leah Cummins