P007140 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Theme created 2022-12-09 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] updated 2025-11-07 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007140b.htm concept Australian First Nations AACR2 "Australian First Nations" is a high level thematic entry that acts as the foundation of a model linking the knowledge of law, culture and country of Indigenous Australians with the history of Western science in Australia, which was the original focus of the Encyclopedia and its predecessors. This theme is an experiment and an embodiment of the tradition of a living archive. As we work with our First Nations' colleagues on the development of this and many related entries, the plan is that bridges and gateways will emerge that will assist individuals and communities with their learning and research. As this Encyclopedia specifically targets innovation we have found this definiton useful. "Indigenous innovation" refers "to interesting, ingenious and original ways in which Australia's Indigenous peoples have responded to specific challenges, be they environmental, cultural, social, or the result of internal or external influences." [McNiven and Russell (2023) "Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity" p.24]. The link to the entry for David Unaipon (1872-1967) recognises the visionary and leadership roles that he played in both cultural spheres and the bridges he attempted to build. He will remain an enduring inspiration.

As McNiven and Russell (2023, p31) also note: "Every First Nations community had its encyclopedias of knowledge held in the heads of people but expressed physically, symbolically and spiritually across Country, like a vast living library."

The principles and protocols on which this and similar entries are built are fundamentally simple and based on the concept of mutual respect, reciprocal gift exchange and the sharing of knowledge. Billy Griffiths noted in "Deep Time Dreaming" (page 173) in discussing the "Rom" ceremony: "The acceptance of such a gift enmeshes the recipients into a continuous process of reciprocity. As a diplomatic ritual, it formalises bonds and establishes an equal footing upon which both communities can build. It is the extension of a hand of friendship, and it is offered in the hope that knowledge will bring understanding, acceptance, rights and recognition."

As a rule, in the creation of entries of any type, we only work with knowledge that is in the public domain or could be published. Our goal is to systematically reference all the relevant sources we uncover, including archival and museum collections, in a culturally safe manner. We recognise that how language is used and what things are called is an ongoing challenge. In the spirit of the living archive and with the power of relational social and cultural informatics our hope is that this gateway will continously evolve to meet the needs of communities.

An inspiration for this theme is the "First Knowledges" edited by Margo Neal and published by Thames and Hudson progessively since 2021. They are referenced below.

The selected references below are designed to provide a starting point for readers as well as entry points into the existing entries in the Encyclopedia. It should not be surprising that all Australian stories are in some way connected with the history of Western science and innovation, and the First Nations' history of country, its skies and waters.

 Unaipon, David (1872 - 1967) Navigation, Seafaring and Canoe Technology, Australian First Nations Kormilda Science Project (1992 - ) 'Australian First Nations', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Australian First Nations Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Edited Book: Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia Arthur, Bill; Morphy, Frances Macquarie Atlas of Indigenous Australia Second Sydeny, New South Wales Macquarie Dictionary Publishers (Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd) 2019 Book: Legendary tales of the Australian Aborigines Unaipon, David: edited by Muecke, Stephen and Shoemaker, Adam Legendary tales of the Australian Aborigines Carlton, Vic. Miegunyah Press 2006 Book: Songlines: the power and promise Neale, Margo; and Kelly, Lynne Songlines: the power and promise Port Melbourne, Vic. Thames and Hudson 2021 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 207 Book: The first astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars Hamacher, Duane, with Elders and knowledge holders: Anderson, Ghillar Michael; Barsa, John; Bosum, David; Day, Ron; Passi, Segar; and Tapim, Alo The first astronomers: how Indigenous Elders read the stars Sydney Allen & Unwin 2022 Book: The Biggest Estate on Earth: how Aborigines Made Australia Gammage, Bill The Biggest Estate on Earth: how Aborigines Made Australia Crows Nest, N.S.W. Allen & Unwin 2011 Book: Everything you need to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart Davis, Megan; and Williams, George Everything you need to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart Sydney NewSouth Publishing 2021 Book: Return to Uluru: a killing; a hidden history: a story that goes to the heart of the nation McKenna, Mark Return to Uluru: a killing; a hidden history: a story that goes to the heart of the nation Carlton, Vic. Black Inc. 2021 Book: Country: future fire, future farming Gammage, Bill; and Pascoe, Bruce Country: future fire, future farming Port Melbourne Thames and Hudson 2021 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 211 Book: Design: building on country Page, Alison; and Memmott, Paul Design: building on country Port Melbourne, Vic. Thames and Hudson 2021 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 291 Book: Astronomy: sky country Noon, Karlie; and de Napoli, Krystal Astronomy: sky country Port Melbourne Thames and Hudson 2022 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 195 Book: Deep time dreaming: uncovering ancient Australia Griffiths, Billy Deep time dreaming: uncovering ancient Australia Carlton, Vic. Black Inc. 2018 Book: Law: the way of the ancestors Langton, Marcia; and Corn, Aaron Law: the way of the ancestors Port Melbourne, Vic Thames and Hudson 2023 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 227 Newspaper Article: How ancient knowledge is making modern science sit up and pay attention Burin, Margaret How ancient knowledge is making modern science sit up and pay attention Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2025 ABC News Book: Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity McNiven, Ian J; and Russell, Lynette Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity Port Melbourne Thames and Hudson 2023 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 256 Edited Book: Dhoombak goobgoowana: a history of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne - Volume 1: The Truth Jones, Ross L., Waghorne, James and Langton, Marcia Dhoombak goobgoowana: a history of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne - Volume 1: The Truth Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 2024 Edited Book: Terrible hard biscuits: A reader in Aboriginal history Chapman, Valerie C; Read, Peter Terrible hard biscuits: A reader in Aboriginal history St Leonards, New South Wales Allen & Unwin 1996 Book: Health: spirit, country and culture Andrews, Shawana, Eades, Sandra and Stanley, Fiona Health: spirit, country and culture Cremorne, Vic Thames and Hudson 2024 First knowledges, edited by Margot Neale 225 Book: Gunditjmara Country: an Indigenous prespective on the earth sciences Read, Theo Watson; with the Gunditjmara Community Gunditjmara Country: an Indigenous prespective on the earth sciences Melbourne Book: Pintupi Country: An Indigenous perspective on the earth sciences Read, Theo Watson; Tjapaltjarri, Benny; Hansen, Ken; with the Walungurru Community Pintupi Country: An Indigenous perspective on the earth sciences Melbourne Book: Gunbalanya Country: an Indigenous perspective on the earth sciences Read, Theo Watson; Nayinggul, Jacob; Gumurdul, Donald; Bangalang, Tony; Manakju, Andrew; Etherington, Steve; Kuluburr, Peggy Mangngub; with the Gunbalanya Community Gunbalanya Country: an Indigenous perspective on the earth sciences Melbourne Resource: Deep Time ABC News Story Lab Deep Time Australia Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2025 Book: Plants: past, present and future Cumpston, Zena; Fletcher, Michael-Shawn; and Head, Lesley Plants: past, present and future Port Melbourne Thames and Hudson 2022 First Knowledges series, edited by Margo Neale 212 Conference Paper: Thinking of the future while looking deep into the past: the continuing evolution of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation [Paper 400] McCarthy, Gavan Thinking of the future while looking deep into the past: the continuing evolution of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation [Paper 400] Melbourne Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation 2025 27th International Congress of History of Science & Technology