Digital archive preserves Aboriginal art and culture.
Thanks to the efforts of a member of faculty at Washington State University, the Warumungu Aboriginal community in Australia’s Northern Territory is regaining important aspects of their cultural past.
Kimberly Christen, an assistant professor in comparative ethnic studies, worked collaboratively with the community to create a browser-based digital archive built around the cultural materials and personal and community photos of the Warumungu. The archive provides access to thousands of photos, movies, and songs the Warumungu thought they had lost forever.
The Mukurtu Wumparrarni-kai Archive Project is built around the cultural protocols of the community. It takes into account the code of behavior for everyday life among the Warumungu. For example, men do not view women’s rituals, people related to one country or specific place cannot access or view the images from other countries without prior permission, and family members do not view images of deceased relatives.
Dr. Christen has worked with the Warumungu community since 1995 on a range of projects. The idea for the archive came out of the community’s interest in repatriating and managing its own cultural materials through the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre.
Learn more
Mukurtu Archive
ABC News story on Mukurtu archive
More about Kimberly Christen’s research
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