This tool kit will help get you started with research on Indigenous Australians at the State Library of Western Australia, located in the Alexander Library Building.

• Location, parking and access information

The State Library of Western Australia holds a comprehensive research collection of Indigenous Australian resources, with an emphasis on Western Australian documentary heritage material. Resources are also held about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in other Australian States and Territories, and some information on Indigenous people in other countries. Example, Maori people in New Zealand, Canadian Aboriginal people (Inuit).

1. Search the library catalogue: http://henrietta.slwa.wa.gov.au/

Use broad subject headings such as:

• Aboriginal Australians
• Aboriginal Australians - Western Australia
• Aboriginal Australians - Western Australia – Albany
• Aboriginal Australians – Western Australia – Kimberley
• Aboriginal Australians – Western Australia – Pilbara

Subject headings for Indigenous people in other countries include:

• Indigenous peoples
• Indigenous peoples – New Zealand
• Indigenous peoples – Canada

2. Browse the shelves

The collection is currently in various locations throughout the Alexander Library Building. Decide first if information is required about Aboriginal Australians in Western Australia, other Australian States and Territories, or Indigenous people in other countries.

Resources on Aboriginal Australians in Western Australia are located in the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History, 3rd floor.

Information on Indigenous people in other Australian States and Territories, or international indigenous populations is located on the 1st floor.

Browsing the shelves on either the 1st or 3rd floor at these call numbers is a good starting point.

• 305.89915 or 306.089915 (Aboriginal Australians)
• 333.2 (Aboriginal land rights)
• 346.940432 (Mabo/Native Title)
• 362.8499 (The Stolen Generation, Aboriginal Health)
• 499.15 (Aboriginal Languages)
• 994.04 (Aboriginal Australian History)

3. Print Journals (magazines)

The latest journal/magazine issues are on display stands on 1st or 3rd floor. Previous issues are located on serial shelves, or in stack areas. The catalogue entry states if items are held in stack. Retrieval of stack items is conducted every half hour. Please ask staff if you require stack retrieval.

Suggested journal titles:

• Aboriginal History
  301.4519 - 1st Floor Serial Shelves
• Australian Indigenous Law Reporter
  346.94013 AUS - 1st Floor Serial Shelves
• Family Matters (often contains articles on Indigenous families)
  Q306.8 FAM - 1st floor Serial Shelves
• Koori Mail
  F305.89915 KOO - 1st Floor Serial Stack
• Newsletter / Aboriginal Education and Training Council
  371.97 NEW - 3rd floor Serial Stack
• Newsletter / Kimberley Land Council.
  333.1 NEW - 3rd Floor Serial Stack
• Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage
  305.89915 OVE - 1st floor serial shelves
• Talking Native Title
  346.940432 TAL - 3rd Floor Serial Stack

4. Online Databases

State Library of Western Australia provides onsite access to online databases that contain indexed references to Indigenous Australians. Note that strict Licensing Agreements specify whether it is possible to network online databases outside the Alexander Library Building. Follow the links: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au -> Search -> Electronic Resources -> Indigenous Australia

Databases available to search within the Alexander Library Building include:

• Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre
• Master File Premier
• Informit’s Indigenous Australia suite
• Grove Music Online - references on Aboriginal music
• Art Full Text - references on Aboriginal artists, art

Remote Access – Online Databases
Some online databases are licensed under a State-wide agreement, and can be accessed remotely, using a Western Australian public library membership card number. Follow the links: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au -> Search -> Electronic Resources -> Databases from Home

5. Pictorial Collection

The Pictorial Collection contains Western Australian pictorial items. Most are photographic images. Copies of images in the Pictorial Collection can be ordered, and some (but not all photographs in the collection) may be viewed online. To view online images, or order photographs, follow the links: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au -> Search -> Search our Catalogue -> Pictorial
Keyword searching for pictorial images is highly recommended.
Type in: Australian Aboriginals
Click submit search
Click view photograph to see the online image.

6. Information Gateways

If you are looking for specific topics, try the Information Gateways section on State Library of Western Australia website. Here all the hard work has been done to gather major resources, databases, and links in one place. Topics include Aboriginal family history, health and literature, together with other gateways on genealogy, medicine and health, Government information, and many more.
Follow the link: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/gateways.html

7. Western Australian Websites

• State Records Office (SRO) located on the Ground Floor in the Alexander Library Building holds records and specialized indexes that are of specific interest to people tracing Aboriginal family histories.
  
• Department of Indigenous Affairs: Family History Unit
  The Family History Unit holds the most comprehensive collection of materials dealing with Aboriginal History and current issues in Western Australia.
  
• Department for Communities: Family Information Records Bureau
  Contains information on Western Australian Aboriginal families in the past, including personal files, records of marriage or defacto relationships, placement of children, employment, health and police records.
  
• Department for Child Protection: Adoption Services
  Information about adoptions of Aboriginal children in Western Australia, including current procedures, and records of adoptions occurring in the past.
  
• Looking West : a guide to Aboriginal Records in Western Australia
  Produced by the Records Taskforce of Western Australia, 2004

8. National Websites

• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
  The Aboriginal Family History Unit holds records and indexes to assist family history researchers, including ABI (Aboriginal Biographical Index) a searchable online resource containing more than 50,000 names.
  
• National Archives of Australia
  Contains records and fact sheets about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

9. Select Bibliography

Some suggested titles to help get your research started.