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First Australians – Episode 4, No Other Law (2008)

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clip ‘He calls it the Dreamtime’

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Rachel Perkins, as narrator, and Max Stuart of the Arrernte Luritja Nation, explain the origin of the term ‘the Dreamtime’ and its importance in Arrernte life. Historians Dick Kimber, Professor Marcia Langton of the Yiman-Bidjara Nation, Gordon Briscoe, a Maraduntjara man, and historian-archaeologist Professor John Mulvaney discuss the seminal publication of Baldwin Spencer and Frank Gillen, The Native Tribes of Central Australia (1899).

Curator’s notes

by Sophia Sambono

The work conducted by Spencer and Gillen is precious to the Arrernte people because they now have a comprehensive record of their culture at the time of its recording. It must, however, be a meagre consolation for the decimation of that same culture. Gillen and Spencer’s chief intent was to record the secret-sacred practices of Indigenous people. As a result only small non-secret or ‘open’ sections of the films remain, which can be seen throughout this episode. The footage Spencer shot in the central desert, and on the rest of their expedition in the Northern Territory, is particularly sought after. It is often witnessed with great joy by Aboriginal people viewing this collection at Museum Victoria and at the National Film and Sound Archive.

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