Aboriginal Visual Histories: Ethical statement
Principles for respecting Indigenous cultural heritage
These principles guide our approach to this research project.
1. Respect
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of Australia. We respect the rights of Indigenous people to own and control their heritage. We acknowledge that photographs, films, manuscripts and sound recordings all constitute Indigenous cultural heritage.
2. Indigenous Control
Indigenous people have the right to determine how they are represented.
3. Communication, consultation and consent
Where it is possible to ascertain a clear link between a photograph and an Indigenous individual, community, family or cultural group, a consultation process with the relevant parties will be undertaken. The aim of this process is to seek to collaborate with and/ or the informed consent of the Indigenous community or individuals concerned.
4. Interpretation, integrity and authenticity
Indigenous communities will be involved in interpreting and presenting images, and ensuring the cultural integrity and authenticity of the image and interpretation.
5. Secrecy and confidentiality
Researchers will discuss any restrictions of use with relevant Indigenous groups. These may relate both to traditional restrictions on knowledge and to the use of personal information or images. In particular, prohibitions on naming or viewing images of deceased will be clarified.
6. Attribution and copyright
In addition to complying with copyright law and individual agreements with copyright owners, the AVH project will only seek to publish photographs following consultation with the appropriate Indigenous community or nominated individual/s.
7. Proper returns and royalties
The AVH project will endeavour to share all benefits of the research with Indigenous communities. Monetary benefits such as royalties will be assigned to the appropriate Indigenous communities or individual(s). Assignation of copyright will be negotiated as appropriate. Participants will be paid for their time.
8. Continuing cultures
Consultation will be pursued throughout the duration of the project and any subsequent research outcomes.
9. Recognition and protection
The AVH project will provide a written research agreement to participating Indigenous communities or individuals. This will address the specific cultural protocols and concerns of each community. It will address the issues specified above, for example in recognizing Indigenous cultural and intellectual property ownership and control.
In developing this statement we have drawn from the following documents:
- Terri Janke, 1998 Our Culture, Our Future. Report on Australian Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Canberra.
- Australia Council for the Arts, 2007 Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Media Arts. Sydney.
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, AIATSIS AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVE: Collections Management Policy Manual. Code of Ethics.