'Stories for country': Oral history and Aboriginal land claim
Date
1987
Authors
McGrath, Ann
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oral History Association
Abstract
In January 1985 I travelled to Darwin to appear as an
expert witness for the Northern Land Council in the Upper Daly
Land claim. While awaiting another expert (on potatoes!) to
complete his lengthy evidence, several days were spent
nervously shuffling through documents, in unsettling view of
the hotel's palmy pool. More than ready to be cross-examined,
I was glad to be in the dock at last. But my seat was hardly
warm when counsel for the objectors asked that the Land
Commissioner rule my historical submission inadmissable. This
was on the grounds that the oral history material included was
'rank hearsay'. I was outraged; is this what lawyers think of
oral history?
Description
Keywords
Aboriginal History, Australian History
Citation
McGrath, A. “'Stories for country': Oral history and Aboriginal land claim”. Oral History Association of Australia Journal 9 (1987): 34-46.
Collections
Source
Oral History Association of Australia Journal
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access
License Rights
DOI
Restricted until
Downloads
File
Description