Welcome to the
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Continue

AIATSIS acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

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- Donate to the Collection We welcome donations of unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge, and experience.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.
- AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages 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 AIATSIS Education offers a growing bank of educational resources aligned with Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum.
- Expression of Interest – AIATSIS Education Advisory Committee
- Schools program We offer transformative learning experiences for all Australian students and teachers.
- Professional development We offer high quality, culturally responsive and racially literate teacher professional development both in person and online.
- Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources This guide supports educators to make conscious and critical decisions when selecting curriculum resources.
- Core e-learning suite The Core e-learning suite consists of courses that have been developed to strengthen individual and organisational cultural capability.
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 2025 We are please to partner with LNAC as co-hosts to deliver Summit 2025 in Garramilla
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’ve opened a new facility in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
- 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.
- Public Facilities Discover our public facilities options and services
- Support our work Join us and support the revival and maintenance of some of the oldest languages, songs and words in the world
Shop

Ngirramanujuwal is one who adds colour.

We are home to the world’s largest collection of artworks by Walmajarri man Jimmy Pike, as well as photographs and audio that document his life and work.

This collection forms the basis of Ngirramanujuwal: The Art and Country of Jimmy Pike, a new book and display that immerses viewers in Jimmy’s colourful depictions of Walmajarri Country.

We invite you to journey through the Great Sandy Desert, experiencing the Walmajarri seasons – makurra, parranga, yitilal and jutalkarra – as revealed through Jimmy’s art and intimate relationship with Country.

We acknowledge and extend our deepest respect to the legacy of Jimmy Pike and to Walmajarri Country and community.

We recognise the spirit beings of Walmajarri Country, including Kalpurtu, Mangkaja, Murrungkurr, Rayi, Luurn, Kurntumaru, Parnaparnti, Pitingkaji and Wurta, whose stories inspired Jimmy’s art and this display.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Pat Lowe, Terry Murray and Peter Murray for their generous support through the development of this publication and display.

This event has now concluded.

Date

30 May 2023 to 2 June 2023

Time

10:00am - 4:00pm

The exhibit is free and open to the public from 10am-4pm Tuesday, 30 May to Friday, 2 June, at Government House Ballroom, Western Australia.

Portrait of Jimmy Pike in the desert, holding up his drawing titled Wurruwurru (Sandhill Man), Pat Lowe, 1987

Rockhole Desert Country, Jimmy Pike.
ATS1036_225

Jimmy Pike, Pirnini Country III, c. 1988, screen print on paper, 42.3 × 59.8 cm (printed image); 67 × 84.5 cm (sheet), AIATSIS, ATS1036_370

Jimmy Pike, Japingka Country, 1989, printed image on sheet, 68 x 84 cm, AIATSIS, ATS1036_366

Share

Last updated: 31 May 2023