“First database of Indigenous Australian message sticks”

Daniru Jayasuriya wrote a feature on the Australian Message Stick Database for the quarterly science magazine Cosmos. “It’s not accurate to say ‘message sticks are just like Western literacy […] because they’re addressing a different kind of problem that written practice isn’t adapted for.” Kelly says we need to reevaluate beliefs about the use of … Read more

Interview on ABC South East NSW

Lorina Barker and Piers Kelly sat down with Eddie Williams of ABC South East NSW Breakfast to discuss message sticks from New South Wales. A Ngarigo caller made contact to reveal that she had several old message sticks handed down within her family.

“Indigenous message stick database offers a new way to understand Aboriginal culture”

Dan Holmes writes about the newly launched Australian Message Stick Database in The Mandarin, pointing out its significance for policy makers: In the context of a failing Indigenous policy environment, this might seem like low-priority research. But in the wake of the failed referendum on a voice to parliament, many leading indigenous figures have argued the loss reflects … Read more