Guided by her: Aboriginal women's participation in Australian expeditions

Abstract

Historians have largely ignored Aboriginal women's involvement in exploration expeditions, though there are some notable exceptions. Even when women did hide, this was not necessarily then end of the story, as they sometimes re-emerged aster assessing the situation. Some women reputedly approached expedition members, aware that they were a group of men without white women present. Other women acted as guides and interpreters. This chapter will argue that while it is vital to maintain awareness of women in hiding, we also need to look at representations of women's involvement in expeditions and to consider their contributions, motivations and interests in guiding explorers through country.