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Talking (and running, jumping, kicking and throwing) histories: telling yarns about Indigenous Sport
Indigenous talent is being sought to participate in a national project focussed on the history of Indigenous people involved in sport, Minister responsible for the Archives Marion Scrymgour announced today.
“This is a great national project to which the Territory can make fantastic contributions, and aims to record Indigenous people’s first recollections of sport in their community,” said Ms Scrygmour
“For many remote communities their first contact with sport appears to have occurred during or just after World War II.
“That’s very much the case on the Tiwi islands where my people come from—but there would be some fascinating yarns from many other places.
“Sport plays such an important role in many Indigenous communities, but surprisingly very little has been documented.”
The Northern Territory Archives Service is coordinating the NT component of this project which is being run through the National Library of Australia in conjunction with the Australian Sports Commission.
Northern Territory Archives Service Oral History Manager Matthew Stephen, who is coordinating the project, said the stories could relate to any sporting related memories, be it about football, netball, basketball, softball or school sports days.
“One interesting story we heard about was that post World War II, The Belyuen community (then known as Delissaville) had stories of their football players crossing the harbour by canoe to play for the Wanderers Football Club in
“We’re also really interested in hearing about Indigenous women’s involvement in sport, as that’s really a lesser known aspect.“While these oral histories will have a focus on sport they will also provide a reflection of early community life.”
Once completed the oral histories would become part of the National Library and Northern Territory Archives Service Oral History Collections. For more information contact Matthew Stephen on 0437 307 399.
