1st Edition
The Indigenous Right of Reply to Archives Working towards Indigenous Sovereignty, Healing, and Justice in Archival Practice
Introduction: Right of Reply and the Indigenous Archives Collective: Building a Network to Support Dialogue in Indigenous Archives Shannon Faulkhead, Kirsten Thorpe, and Narissa Timbery Introducing the Indigenous Archives Collective Position Statement on the Right of Reply to Indigenous Knowledges and Information Held in Archives Kirsten Thorpe, Lauren Booker, and Monica Galassi Creative Response – The Right to Know Nathan Mudyi Sentance 1. International Indigenous Archival Activism: Reflections on the Right to Know, Right of Reply, and Right to Govern from Native North America Jennifer R. O’Neal 2. The Right to Know: Collecting Institutions and the Imperative for Proactive and Responsible Disclosures Rose Barrowcliffe, Lauren Booker, and Mike Jones 3. Digital Preservation of Aboriginal Secret/Sacred Film and Audio Proppa Way Tasha James 4. What Our Archives Don’t Say Tui Raven Creative Response Jodie Dowd 5. Towards a Context for a Right of Reply at the National Library of Australia Fiona Blackburn 6. Collections as Conversation: Right of Reply at UQ Library Mia Strasek-Barker, Lesley Acres, and Raelee Lancaster 7. Indigenous Knowledges in Powerhouse Custodianship: Building Trust, Building Collections Uncle Marcus Hughes, Lucy Clark, Tammi Gissell, and Nathan Mudyi Sentance 8. Right of Reply: A Matter of Responsibility and Progress Monica Galassi Creative Response – Cultural Safety Nathan Mudyi Sentance 9. Mana Tangata: The Right of Reply and Cultural Safety in Aotearoa New Zealand Spencer Lilley 10. The Archives as Places of Sorry Business: Enacting the Right of Reply to Support Truth-telling, Healing, Indigenous Well-being, and Sovereignty Kirsten Thorpe Conclusion Nathan Mudyi Sentance
Biography
The Indigenous Archives Collective is an international network of Indigenous and allied archivists, scholars, and practitioners advocating for Indigenous sovereignty in archives. Grounded in values of respect, integrity, and social justice, the Collective advances truth-telling, cultural safety, and systemic change across the GLAM sector through dialogue, collaboration, and community-led practice.
When Indigenous and allied voices collaborate to reclaim narratives from institutional archives, healing begins. This transformative work invites new responses to historical records — shifting power, affirming sovereignty, and creating pathways towards justice. An essential guide for anyone committed to meaningful reconciliation through collaborative stewardship.
Laura McBride, Wailwan, Director, First Nations, Australian MuseumThis book is a how-to guide on putting decolonial principles into practice. It is essential reading for anyone interested in activating archival traces to envision and enact more just societies.
Michelle Caswell, Professor, Department of Information Studies, UCLA
