Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Message Stick – Blacktracker (1996)

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Researching family history

This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Bernadette Yhi Riley undertakes research into the life and career of her great-grandfather, Aboriginal tracker Alexander (Alec) Riley. We see her researching her family history in archives, libraries and at Dubbo Gaol.

Curator’s notes

by Liz McNiven

Bernadette Yhi Riley, a descendant of tracker Alec Riley, narrates this clip about her research and re-enacts the visit to Dubbo Gaol that sparked her interest in his story. Bernadette’s narration is presented as a continuous monologue, allowing us intimate access to her thoughts and feelings about her great-grandfather. Her straightforward and personable delivery allows us to walk in her shoes and suggests that we will soon be sharing in whatever revelations she discovers about Tracker Riley.