Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration

On 25 October 2019 the International Council on Archives (ICA), through its Expert Group on Indigenous Matters, made the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration. The Declaration call on archives around the world to re-imagine the meaning of archives as an engaging model of social memory; to embrace Indigenous worldviews; to decolonise archival principles with Indigenous knowledge methods; and to open public archives to Indigenous interpretations.

The Declaration aims to see public archives as ethical spaces for encounter, respect, negotiation and collaboration without dominance or judgement. CAARA, and its member institutions, support the themes and commitments enshrined in the Declaration. Member institutions commit to improving services to Indigenous peoples, ensuring practices are inclusive and creating spaces that support ethical and respectful dialogue. These will be achieved through engagement, learning and collaboration.