Most family history research projects are complex, time-consuming and frustrating. Tracing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family histories poses a unique set of challenges. Stories passed down through your family and interviews with family members are a key source of information BUT they may be different from the information in historical records.
You have to be the judge of what’s more likely to be right or wrong.
Finding your history
Researching your family history means looking for evidence – like a detective – often in the form of ‘records’. Records are the many pieces of paper that officials or professional make about us. Think Centrelink forms and records, or the records your doctor keeps about you.
What records might have information?
Records about Indigenous people have been created by a range of organisations and individuals, such as welfare and protection boards, adoption agencies, education and health departments, police forces, churches, missionaries, anthropologists and other academic researchers.
Many records about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are part of complex recordkeeping systems maintained by governments, churches or other organisations. See: Past caring a paper by Kim Katon (2002).
Finding records with the information you want can be difficult, even when there are databases, guides, indexes and finding aids to help you.
Family histories and life histories are a good source of information
Since the 1980s many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have recorded their life stories and those of their families and communities. Native Title claims may also be a significant source for Indigenous family history researchers.
Sometimes the records you want don't exist or can't be found
But written proof may not exist because the records were:
- lost with the passing of time
- destroyed because they were no longer useful or because they were embarrassing or legally dangerous for the people who created them
- never created in the first place – for example, a baby whose birth was not registered will not have a birth certificate.
The content of historical records may upset you
You might find the content of records upsetting or offensive.
Offensive. Historical records reflect the perspectives and attitudes of the people who made them. Records about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people often reflect the biased and racist views of white officials, missionaries, station owners and others. They can contain material that is derogatory and use words and ideas you find offensive.
Personal. The records might contain very private and intimate information about you or your family members. They might contradict each other and present conflicting information. They might contain information that you know is wrong or that challenges what you have always believed about your family’s past and present history.
But is it true? Information written down in an official-looking document seems to have a lot of weight (especially to other officials). But you can challenge the official sources and point out biases and inaccuracies. Understanding why records were created will help you to decide how much weight you are going to give to each record that you find.
Getting support
Indigenous family history research can take you on a very emotional journey. It’s a good idea to make sure that someone is with you for support, debriefing and a ‘reality check’ the first time you get access to sensitive records.
Sometimes you may need support because it is just not possible to find what you want to know about your ancestors. You might not be able to prove who your ancestors were. This can be very frustrating and disheartening.
The bottom line – Make sure you have support!