Alice Duncan-Kemp's books on Mithaka culture helped secure native title
Duncan-Kemp's detailed childhood observations of Mithaka culture supported the 2015 native title determination for the region.
Alice Duncan-Kemp grew up on Mooraberrie. This was a large sheep and cattle station in Queensland's Channel Country.
It lay between Birdsville and Windorah. From childhood there, she knew Mithaka people well.
She recorded their culture in four books. These were published during her lifetime.
One more book came out after she died in 1988. Alice Duncan-Kemp's very detailed and caring observations became evidence for the 2015 native title determination.
This determination recognised Mithaka as the region's traditional owners. A new book, "Alice's dreaming" by historian Tom Griffiths, looks at Duncan-Kemp's life and legacy.
Griffiths looks at a tension. Duncan-Kemp had real care for Mithaka culture.
But she was also a white observer recording Aboriginal experiences.
- 1901-1988
- Life span
- 4
- Books published in lifetime
- Mooraberrie, Channel Country, Queensland
- Station location
- 2015
- Native title year
Why it mattersHistorical work by outsiders can help Indigenous land rights claims. Yet it raises hard questions. Who should explain Aboriginal culture? How should they do it?
AustraliaDuncan-Kemp's documentation helped Queensland's Mithaka people secure native title recognition, showing how individual historical records can support Indigenous land claims.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 d ago
