TRANSCRIPT
Promoting cultural exchange and learning, fostering mutual respect, and engaging with First Nations people is at the heart of a new Indigenous research centre being launched at La Trobe University.
Researchers say it aims to nurture Indigenous community research projects - as well as providing a safe space for First Nations researchers.
Yorta Yorta woman Professor Julie Andrews is director of the virtual research centre, which is served by campuses in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
She says the centre is about having a space where First Nations researchers are driving the policy solutions and practical measures that impact Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
"The new research centre has been in formation for about two years now, so the aim was to create Indigenous-led informed research practice. Currently, we have research projects that are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused, and these are around topics of concern in our communities. Our centre is able to give guidance and direction on how to work with Aboriginal communities. We're able to develop cultural awareness programs."
The research centre is known by the Indigenous name Gabra Biik, Wurruwila Wutja, meaning Clever Country, Clever People, with words taken from four Indigenous languages.
But in what way is it different to other research centres?
Gumbaynggir man Michael Donovan is pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous at La Trobe University.
He says collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and community members is at the heart of the centre's creation and that will continue going forward.
"So we engaged with the diversity of the community across Victorian and beyond. Went and spoke with community, not just pop in, pop out. We spent time engaging with community, made time that suited them, and we spoke about what were the needs and the issues within their communities? And then through those discussions, we led to working out what we needed to do to better engage with community."
It will focus on projects that promote cultural exchange and learning across a broad range of subject areas.
One project is already underway with Transport New South Wales, which aims to investigate how Indigenous knowledge can help improve the management of road networks.
Professor Donovan says the centre's way of working is key - drawing from Indigenous knowledge and strengths on areas like land management to find solutions to community needs and problems.
"Health, the environment, a couple of our real primary areas. Education is also another one that we work within La Trobe, but many of these issues in our discussions with the community were things that the community had concerns or desires at different levels, at different focus points. But in broad general terms, it was the things we kind of did overlap quite nicely."
Researchers say the centre is putting at the forefront consultation with Aboriginal communities to ensure the sharing of knowledge is done in a respectful and ethically sound manner.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, traditional knowledge includes ecological knowledge, medicinal knowledge, environmental management knowledge and cultural and spiritual knowledge.
Professor Donovan explains why the sharing of that wisdom is so important.
"As a civilised, dignified culture, we've had the time to learn from our own mistakes over the last a hundred thousand years on the landmass of Australia. So we have a really good understanding of this environment and the world spatial understandings that pass the land mass of Australia. And as a civilised culture, we've had the opportunity to negotiate and discuss and build positive relationships. So when it comes to the knowledge systems of Australia, Aboriginal people have had a lot of experience of engaging with those processes."
Professor Andrews says the centre will operate across La Trobe's campuses in New South Wales and Victoria - but the aim is to invite collaboration around the country and also globally.
"At this stage, we are calling the research centre virtual, so that means it can be global. We would like to do research with other Indigenous groups around the country and around the world. So we are starting to service the needs of our Aboriginal communities that are connected to our campuses in Victoria. But a lot of our campuses are situated on the border of New South Wales and Victoria. So those borders aren't in our Aboriginal boundaries, and there's no borders and boundaries around our cleverness on our country and with our people."
