Explore
Family history
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Before you start Read about what you should know before you begin.
- Research step-by-step Follow our steps for doing family history research.
- Family history sources Learn about the different sources of family history information.
- Where to get help Access assistance in your state and territory.
Collection
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Search the Collection Search and explore the AIATSIS Collection of more than 1 million items related to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Featured collections Browse some of our featured collections which have been digitised as part of our ongoing preservation work.
- Using the Collection You can search the Collection online or visit the Stanner Reading Room to view or listen to collection items and conduct research.
- Caring for the Collection We have the largest and best contextualised collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage in the world, and it continues to grow.
- Donate to the Collection We welcome donations of unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge, and experience.
Research
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Current projects Our research contributes to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and has a direct benefit to the communities we work with.
- Ethical research We provide leadership in ethics and protocols for research related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and collections.
- Indigenous Research Exchange We improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by ensuring there is more involvement and agency in research projects.
- Native title research and access service The Native Title Research and Access Service is your first stop for information about the native title resources in the AIATSIS collection.
- Research publications and reports We produce a range of publications and other resources derived from our research.
- Guides and resources We have produced a range of resources, databases, indexes, finding aids and reading lists to help you with your research and to find information in our Collection.
- Languages at AIATSIS Most of the estimated 250 Australian languages and 600-700 dialects are represented in our unrivalled language holdings.
Education
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Curriculum resources Our world leading curriculum resources are keyed to national curriculum requirements. We also have a range of useful teacher resources within our collection.
- Schools program We will be creating a transformative learning experience for all Australian students and teachers, when visiting Canberra or through on-line training.
- Professional development We will be developing online culturally responsive and racially literate teacher professional development.
- Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources This guide supports educators to make conscious and critical decisions when selecting curriculum resources.
What's new
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- News Read all our latest news and media releases.
- Events Find out about all of our upcoming events and conferences.
- Podcasts Listen, learn and be inspired by the stories of Australia’s First Peoples.
- Blogs Discover the stories behind the work we do and some of the items in our Collection.
- Summit 2024 We are pleased to partner with FPAV as co-conveners to deliver Summit 2024 in Naarm
About
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Connect with us We invite you to connect with us on social media. Join our strong and growing membership and support our foundation.
- What we do We tell the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and create opportunities for people to encounter, engage and be transformed by that story.
- Who we are We are Australia's only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.
- Work with us We recognise that our staff and volunteers are our most valuable asset.
- Ngurra Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct will be nationally significant in speaking to the central place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in Australia’s story.
- AIATSIS Central Australia We’re opening a new facility in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in partnership with First Nations Media Australia.
- Aboriginal Studies Press Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP) is Australia’s leading publisher of Australian Indigenous studies.
- Return of Cultural Heritage AIATSIS is leading the Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program to return Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material held overseas to Australia.
Shop

Cleared Out: First contact in the Western Desert + 'Contact' DVD

Publication date

Monday, 1 March 2010

Type

Book

DVD

Peter Johnson

Yuwali Nixon

Susan Davenport

Attachment/s

cleared-out-contents.pdf (pdf, 515.07 KB)

cleared-out-sample.pdf (pdf, 382.88 KB)

cleared-out-index.pdf (pdf, 272.03 KB)

Summary

In 1964, a group of 20 Aboriginal women and children in the Western Desert made their first contact with European Australians. They had been pursued by patrol officers for several weeks.

Yuwali, 17 at the time, remembers every detail of the drama. Her sharp recollections sit alongside the colourful official reports of the patrol.

Multiple perspectives are reveals through one extraordinary episode.

This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to read and see a first contact encounter in Australia. DVD includes film footage of the 1964 contact with Yuwali's group.

Awards

Cleared out: Winner, WA Premier's Book Awards, 2005; Winner, WA Premier's History Awards, 2005; Winner, Stanner Award, 2006

Contact: Winner, Best Documentary Sydney International Film Festival 2009; Winner, Best Achievement in Directing for Documentary, Australian Directors Guild 2009; Nominated, Best Documentary, ATOM awards 2009; Best Achievement, Sound for a Documentary, Australian Screen Sound Guild; Bronze award, Cinematography Documentaries-Cinema and TV, Australian Cinematographers Society

Reviews and endorsements

‘Contact’ could be the most profoundly moving film this country has ever made…a movie-going experience I will never forget.'

— Simon Foster, SBS

'This extraordinary documentary looks at some of the last Aborigines to meet the modern world…tell(s) an emotional and historic story with a light touch…beautifully shot.'

— Garry Maddox, SMH