Indigenous Engagement

Indigenous Engagement

The Indigenous Engagement Branch helps our people to connect with their past and strengthen their future by leading the Library in celebrating and prioritising First Nations voices, memories and collections.

Collections and resources

Gather: connecting Aboriginal communities with collections and stories

An innovative space for Aboriginal communities to connect with their cultural heritage.

Aboriginal historical collections

Documenting the life and activities of Aboriginal peoples from the earliest European explorations of Australia.

Drawing of men around a tree, sticking their arms in the air and holding a stick

Reconnecting Collections to Communities

The Library is working toward making its Aboriginal Historical Collections more digitally accessible. 

Two men looking at the camera and positioned in front of a house

Indigenous collecting

Help us to collect for the future. The Library seeks to put particular emphasis on developing its collections of material created by Indigenous people who contribute to the life of NSW and its communities.

children jumping from a tree

Rediscovering Indigenous Languages project

Browse Indigenous Australian language material from our collection.

A paper with handwriting on it

Muru View: Visualising Aboriginal place and meaning

The DX Lab has partnered with the Library’s Indigenous Services team and creative studio Sandpit to produce this new exciting project.

Muru View Illowra

NSW First Nations family history

Use this guide to find key family history resources for Aboriginal Australians.

Mapping genealogy by Penny Evans.

Exhibitions and events

Koori Knockout: 50 years

Over 30,000 spectators. Countless sporting heroes. One tournament. Take a front row seat in this major celebration of First Nations sporting excellence.

Koori Knockout supporters in stands, seated and standing.

Dyarubbin

Dyarubbin, the Hawkesbury River, begins at the confluence of the Grose and Nepean rivers and ends at Broken Bay. This long, winding and ancient river has been home to the Darug people for millennia and is a vital and sustaining resource.

Dyarubbin_Cropped

Eight Days in Kamay

On 29 April 1770, the Gweagal people of Kamay (Botany Bay) discovered James Cook and his crew as they sailed into the bay and came ashore.

Sydney Elders

This project by Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones tells a very personal story of Aboriginal Sydney.

Smiling portrait of an old woman holding a model of the Sydney Harbour Bridge covered in shells.

My Weekend with Pop

My Weekend with Pop is an online storybook written and spoken in five Aboriginal languages from across NSW.

Pop and Me

Talking Deadly

Catch up on past talks from our Talking Deadly series including conversations with Aboriginal artists, writers, authors and illustrators.

Travis De Vries

About us

Our Protocols

Protocols and best practice for engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people and collections.

3 people smiling at the camera

Contact Indigenous Engagement at the Library

Keep in touch with us to find out about what we are working on. You can also book an appointment with us for help with your research.  

3 people using a laptop