Objectives

The objectives of this project are to create an archive of Minpaku's collection of Aboriginal Australian academic materials and promote research into Aboriginal Australian material culture by establishing an online hub of academic information. Through collaboration with the local community and experts both in Japan and overseas, we will examine the social position and significance of these materials. Specifically, we will build a database in English and Japanese for the 3,684 Aboriginal Australian artifacts in the Minpaku collection. In constructing the database, we will seek to augment and refine the information contained in it by working together with local residents who have a connection to the academic materials, as well as domestic and international experts in the field. We will then conduct research exchange activities which utilize the database, such as field studies, joint research and international workshops. Based on those findings, we will consider the possibility and significance of sharing Minpaku's collection of Aboriginal Australian materials internationally.

Description

In this project we will collaborate with the local community to create a new archive of Aboriginal Australian materials and strengthen the academic foundations for future research into Aboriginal Australian material culture. In doing so, we will clarify the significance of Minpaku's collection of Aboriginal Australian materials and consider how to encourage a shared use of the materials with greater developmental potential.
There are 3,684 items in Minpaku's collection of Aboriginal Australian-related materials. This is comprised of 128 items that were entrusted by The University of Tokyo, and 3,245 items collected through a series of Aboriginal Australian research projects conducted by Minpaku between 1982 and 2004. A further 311 items were purchased by Minpaku. These academic materials make up the majority of Japan’s Aboriginal Australian collection, and information for them has already been compiled into a database which is accessible to the general public.
However, the current database is only provided in Japanese and the contents are insufficient. Since the 1970s, there have been growing demands for the return of indigenous remains and burial goods, along with increasing calls to return the Aboriginal Australian cultural artifacts housed in museum collections. There is more need than ever, therefore, to refine and systematize the information on academic resources stored at Minpaku. Our aim is to create a database in English and Japanese that will establish a foundation for developing research from an interdisciplinary and global perspective, while also responding to the demands of indigenous parties.
In creating an archive of Aboriginal Australian materials, it is essential to collaborate with local residents, who are the bearers of culture. In order to build a foundation for this collaboration, researchers and curators who have already established good relations with the local community will be invited to participate as members of the project team. Furthermore, by bringing young domestic and international researchers on board, we can help develop their research skills, while also building new collaborative relationships with local residents and promoting sustainable development academic research.
Through the process of collecting and systematizing the information on Aboriginal Australian materials, we will promote interactive research based on collaboration with the local community, while utilizing the English and Japanese database. In addition, we will host international workshops to strengthen cooperation with the local community, as well as domestic and overseas universities, research institutes and museums. At the workshops, we will explain the process used for gathering information on the Aboriginal Australian materials, and exchange opinions on the significance of such cultural resource information, as well as future development possibilities. The findings will be published as research papers and books, with the aim of further expanding use of the platform by the research community, local community and general public.

Expected results

We expect the following six outcomes for this project:
1) Refine and systematize Minpaku's Aboriginal Australian cultural material information and establish an online academic hub.
2) Contribute to the preservation and restoration of the local community’s culture by providing a multilingual platform for Aboriginal Australian materials.
3) Utilize the database for research exchange activities, such as joint research and international workshops, to present new findings on Aboriginal Australian material culture.
4) Promote mutual exchange with domestic and overseas researchers, the local community and the general public, and strengthen the foundation for international joint research.
5) Pass on the academic resources accumulated from Minpaku's Aboriginal Australian research projects, and train young researchers so they can develop new research in the future.
6) Widely disseminate the findings from joint research and international workshops to the public through the publication of research papers and books.

Outcomes from 2022

This fiscal year we followed the research plan above and carried out the following three research studies.
1) We organized the data relating to Aboriginal Australian artifacts and created a catalog in Japanese and English. Unrecorded information attached to the paintings in the collection was transcribed and translated from English into Japanese. Researchers with specialized knowledge worked with us on these tasks to help refine the information.
2) We visited the National Museum of Australia, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and Queensland Museum to hold meetings about the project and request their cooperation with our research. We confirmed their ongoing collaboration.
3) We also visited the main collection areas for Aboriginal Australian artifacts in the northern and central regions to gather information and build our network of contacts with partner institutions and local communities.