Lecture: The Web and Indigenous People: The Future is Here

The Web and Indigenous People: The Future is Here

With Philip Gordon, Aboriginal Heritage Officer
Australian Museum, Sydney

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Bishop Museum, Pākī Room II
Free and Open to the Public. Free Parking at Bishop Museum.

Philip Gordon, Aboriginal Heritage Officer at the Australian Museum in Sydney, will discuss an innovative web-based project developed in partnership with the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation. The project provides digital access to an important indigenous cultural collection held at the museum and a web-based platform designed to promote local intergenerational experiences of the collection. By delivering specialized new media skills (video production, web 2.0 programs), and by promoting the cultural transmission of intangible cultural heritage and supporting the development of local identities and community relations, this project was structured to facilitate social transformation in the Singleton region. It also offers high school workshops in which indigenous students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the āonline collection and engage with their culture through new media and the web.


About Philip Gordon:
Philip Gordon, has worked at the Australian Museum since 1980, where he is currently the Aboriginal Heritage Officer. He advises Aboriginal communities on Aboriginal museum outreach, and the repatriation of Aboriginal human remains and other significant cultural properties. In turn, he advises government agencies on cultural heritage issues and policy development. He works with cultural centers and Keeping Places on their development and planning practices, as well as on their training needs. Through his membership on several state and federal committees, including his chairmanship of the New South Wales Museums Committee, Mr. Gordon is widely respected for his ability to move between institutional spaces and local communities and facilitate interaction between them.

Other Relevant Experiences:

· Manager of the Australian Museum Aboriginal Heritage Unit and Head of the Division of Anthropology (2000-2004).

· Involved in the development of museum policy and procedures dealing with indigenous cultural issues, as well as indigenous public programs at the Australian Museum.

· Recently appointed to the Joint Federal and State Committee dealing with the Return of Indigenous Cultural Property.

· Member of the New South Wales Government Arts Advisory Council, State Committee

· Member of the Return of Indigenous Cultural Property Committee, Joint Federal and State Committee

· Member of Visions Committee (funding organization), Federal Committee


This lecture is co-sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Museum Association, Bishop Museum and the University of Hawaiʻi Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program.

Please direct inquiries to museum@hawaii.edu or 956-7428