A museum setting with some First Nations objects on display.

WIRADJURI/WIRADYURI DISPLAY: The Museum of the Riverina currently has some local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri items on display at its Botanic Gardens site.

Arts & Culture

Museum receives funding for First Nations Oral Histories project

Published: 12 Oct 2023 4:20pm

The Museum of the Riverina has been successful in receiving funding for a project to research and record local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations Oral Histories.

A grant of $50,000 was received from a Community Heritage Grant from the NSW State Government, Department of Planning and Environment.

This 2-year project will contribute toward fulfilling action commitments outlined in Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan including undertaking programs to record Aboriginal People’s oral histories, and to engage with local families to assist in the recording of their family stories.

Some First Nations contemporary shields on a wall in a museum, next to screen with a man speaking. — **FIRST NATIONS HISTORIES:** Local First Nations Elders, such as Uncle Stan Grant (pictured on screen), have given their knowledge to younger generations of First Nations people, and the wider community.

These oral histories will be produced as podcasts and will include interviews with 13 local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations families who were part of the resettlement scheme to Wagga Wagga in the early 1970s.

Many of these residents went on to contribute toward the establishment of a wide range of services for the local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations community, such as the Wiradjuri/ Wiradyuri Childcare service, Riverina Medical and a local branch of the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Wagga Wagga City Council Museum Manager Luke Grealy says recording these oral histories is important to record and document the knowledge of local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations community members.

“First Nations histories were traditionally passed down through generations through storytelling,” Mr Grealy said.

“The Wiradjuri and First Nations Oral Histories project uses technology to record the stories of current generations of First Nations community members and families, which will ensure those stories are preserved for future generations.

“It also allows the wider community to hear and learn more about the lives and experiences of local Wiradjuri and First Nations peoples.”

Some First Nations contemporary shields on a wall in a museum, next to screen with a woman speaking. — **PASSING ON KNOWLEDGE:** Local Elder Aunty Florence Grant, who passed away in 2019, is one of the Elders whose recordings is available for the public to view at the Museum of the Riverina - Botanic Gardens site.

The Museum of the Riverina will be managing the project, undertaking research and interviewing local community members and their families.

The Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations Oral Histories project is funded for two years and is set to commence in the coming months and will be completed by the end of June 2025.

Visit the Museum of the Riverina website to find out more about their locations and opening hours.