First Nations Histories
The HCNSW has employed a Project Officer to tell the stories of First Nations Histories. We have created a program of events, commencing in June 2024:
Register for events via the button above
First Nations Events
| Date | Event | Presenters | Description | Mode of delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 June | Tour of Photographic Exhibition: Barbara McGrady: Australia has a Black History | Lily Thomas-McKnight | Exhibition curator at Chau Chak Wing Museum, Lily Thomas-McKnight, leads a tour of the photographic exhibition Barbara McGrady: Australia Has a Black History, featuring photographs from the award-winning photojournalist’s career. | Tour (in person) |
| 26 July | History and Memory: Oral Histories and the science of The Dreaming | Professor Patrick Nunn | History and Memory: Oral Histories and the science of The Dreaming | Zoom presentation (prerecorded and published on the HCNSW YouTube site) |
Call out for questions
See our post on the upcoming talk by Professor Patrick Nunn on: “History and Memory: Oral Histories and the Science of The Dreaming” for how to contribute a question for the recording.
About the First Nations History Program
The HCNSW relies on funding from grants to employ staff and specialist roles such as the Project Officer, First Nations. In 2022, this role was supported by a grant from the City of Sydney. In 2024 we secured funding from Create NSW to re-establish this role, and the new First Nations Project Officer commenced in April 2024.
Project Officer, First Nations Histories
Katrina Dubé, Project Officer,
First Nations Histories
(2024)
Katrina joined the History Council team as our Project Officer, First Nations Histories in 2024.
Katrina is a creative producer in the museum and heritage sector. Her focus on audience engagement and education began as a primary school teacher. After completing a Masters of Museum and Heritage Studies (USYD) she worked with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (Harbour Trust) where she was the Education and Public Programs Officer and the project lead on the Harbour Trust’s contribution to the Gai-Mariagal Festival. She has produced education programs for Strathfield Council and Hurstville Museum & Gallery.
Her major project in 2023 was the development of new school education programs for National Trust’s Old Government House in Parramatta (Burramatta). Working with Dharug Knowledgeholders and artists, the Dharug Room was created as a place of Knowledge Sharing – a place for all students to learn about Country and their role in Caring for Country.
Katrina is passionate about authentic connections and empathetic reasoning, the telling of stories, histories, and truths through word, creative arts and the performing arts.
Image to left: Katrina Dubé, 2023.
Lisa Paton, Project Officer, First Nations Histories (2022)
Lisa Paton worked with the History Council team as our Project Officer, First Nations Histories in 2022.
”I have a passion for history, in particular, First Nations History. The Project Officer, First Nations Histories role will allow me to utilise my skills, passion and network development abilities to enthusiastically develop a program of activities that consolidates the work of the History Council of New South Wales and to enable a First Nations Voice in the perspectives of the operations of the HCNSW.” (Nov, 2021)
Image to right: Lisa Paton with HCNSW Councillor Leah Lui-Chivizhe.
First Nations Histories Events
In 2022, Lisa Paton devised the following events, one if which was recorded and published on our YouTube channel:
- First Nations Careers in History (recorded & published)
- Connecting Cultures: Tracing Ancestors (delivered face-to-face by State Library of NSW First Nations team, not recorded)
Other First Nations major events run by the HCNSW in recent times have been:
- Annual History Lecture 2020, featuring Stan Grant (recorded & published)
- Annual History Lecture 2021, featuring Laura McBride & Mariko Smith (recorded & published)
- Annual History Lecture 2022, featuring Bruce Pascoe (recorded & published)
- Annual History Lecture 2023, featuring Thomas Mayo (recorded & published)
Check out our other other First Nations Histories events, produced and recorded via Zoom, which can be found on our YouTube site.
The HCNSW also supports First Nations histories through a number of other events, including the Annual History Awards program.
Subscribe to our newsletter & social media channels to stay in touch with upcoming events, or check out our Events Calendar on a regular basis.
This role was funded in 2022 by the City of Sydney through a Cultural Sector Innovation Grant, as well as through a grant from the NSW Government via Create NSW.
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