Entangled Knowledges
Entangled Knowledges aims to highlight Menang Nyungar knowledge embedded in a historical fish collection held at National Museums Scotland and return this knowledge to the Menang community in Western Australia.
Last updated: 7 December 2022
About the project
By working in a cross-sector, collaborative and Indigenous-governed team, the project will enrich and re-frame the understanding of this collection in the Museum. It will unearth Indigenous taxonomic practices, produce new histories of biocultural collections and develop a model for participatory cross-cultural collaborations.
In 1841 when based in Albany, Western Australia, Edinburgh-born Assistant Comissary-General Robert Neill made a collection of fishes and mammal specimens, sketches and Menang objects that are now held at National Museums Scotland and the Natural History Museum. Workshops will be held on Indigenous land to research and discuss these collections from different perspectives. This research will be used by museum partners to ensure wide cross-sector and community engagement with the project outcomes. The outputs will include an online digital platform to reassemble the collections, a public lecture and symposium, and a co-edited book.
- Project title
Entangled Knowledges: Kaartdijin, Science and History in the Robert Neill collection
- Project active
2021 - 2024
- Research theme
Scotland's Material Heritage, Identities and Cultural Contacts, Sustainability
- Research sub-theme
Colonial histories and Legacies, Biocultural collections
- Strategic priorities
Developing, preserving and increasing access to the National Collections, Strengthening and sharing collections knowledge and research, Reaching out to people across Scotland and the world, Taking action on climate change and environmental impact
Contributors
Dr Tiffany Shellam, Chief Investigator, Deakin University
Professor Alistair Paterson, Chief Investigator, The University of Western Australia
Dr Shino Konishi, Chief Investigator, The University of Western Australia
Miss Shona Coyne, Partner Investigator, National Museum of Australia
Dr Glen Moore, Partner Investigator, Western Australian Museum
Dr Ali Clark, Partner Investigator, National Museums Scotland
Dr Ian Coates, Partner Investigator, National Museum of Australia
Dr Ross Chadwick, Partner Investigator, Western Australian Museum
Dr Andrew Kitchener, Partner Investigator, National Museums Scotland
Project contact
Contact list of staff members
Dr Ali Clark
Partners
Funded by the Australian Research Council. Governed by the Albany Heritage Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation.
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