The Aboriginal Publications Foundation (APF) was a national
Australian Aboriginal
Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Islands ...
organisation that existed from 1970 to 1982, based first in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, and later in
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
,
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. It existed to promote and fund creative arts projects by Aboriginal people, especially written works. It published a national quarterly magazine called ''Identity'' (1971–1982), which carried articles by many prominent Aboriginal rights activists.
History
Established in 1970, the foundation offered full membership to
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
, and associate membership for non-Indigenous people.
Charles Perkins, who was then employed as a research officer at the
Office of Aboriginal Affairs, was a crucial figure in the establishment of the foundation.
The foundation received a grant from the Office of Aboriginal Affairs at the time of its setting up, with the intention of becoming self-supporting over time; however, it never did. the foundation's base was first in Sydney until its office was established in Perth in 1974.
[
When the ]Aboriginal Arts Board
The Australia Council for the Arts, commonly known as the Australia Council, is the country's official arts council, serving as an arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. The council was announced in 1967 as the Austra ...
of the Australia Council
The Australia Council for the Arts, commonly known as the Australia Council, is the country's official arts council, serving as an arts funding and advisory body for the Government of Australia. The council was announced in 1967 as the Austra ...
(AAB) was created, it had similar aims as the foundation, leading to some duplication of work. From mid-1975, promotional work carried out by the foundation was put under the control of the AAB, while the foundation became a referral body for the AAB. Although a committee was elected for 1983/84, and an office was established at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), established as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIAS) in 1964, is an independent Australian Government statutory authority. It is a collecting, ...
(AIAS) run by part-time volunteers, the foundation ceased operations after the last issue of ''Identity'' was published in mid-1982. The AAB was by then fulfilling most of the functions of the foundation.[
In July 1983, George Harwood was appointed managing editor for 6–12 months in July 1983, after he had been working voluntarily running the office
office which he had organised at AIAS.][
]
Aims
Its initial aims and objectives were, according to its listed Rules:[
However, by 1980 the sole function of the foundation was to publish ''Identity''.][
]
Governance and people
An elected committee administered the organisation, appointed the editor, and was somewhat involved in the content of its publications. It met at different places around the country. A large part of the committee's work comprised obtaining grants for the foundation in order to produce its publications, ''Identity'' and ''Aboriginal and Islander Forum''.[
]Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Oodgeroo Noonuccal ( ; born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska, later Kath Walker (3 November 192016 September 1993) was an Aboriginal Australian political activist, artist and educator, who campaigned for Aboriginal rights. Noonuccal was best known for ...
(Kath Walker) was inaugural president, with Doug Nicholls
Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls, (9 December 1906 – 4 June 1988) was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people. He was a professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter, ceremonial officer and a pioneering ...
and Don Brady (1927–1984) as vice-presidents, Charles Perkins taking the role of secretary and Gordon Briscoe
Gordon Briscoe AO (born 1938) is an Aboriginal Australian academic and activist. In 1997, he became the first Indigenous person to be awarded a PhD from an Australian University. He is also a former soccer player.
Early life
Born in Alice ...
treasurer. Other members of this committee were George Abdullah
George Cyril Abdullah (9 August 1919 – 6 August 1984) was an Aboriginal community leader who promoted Indigenous rights by participating in a number of organisations and committees in Perth, Western Australia.
Early life life
Abdullah was ...
, John Moriarty, Bob Randall, Ken Hampton
Ken or KEN may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer.
* ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film.
* ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine.
* Ken Masters, a main character in t ...
(1935–1987), and Harry Jakamarra Nelson
Harry may refer to:
TV shows
* ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin
* ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons
* ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...
(–2021).[
]Cheryl Buchanan
Cheryl is a female given name common in English speaking countries.
There are several prevailing theories about its etymology. The most common is that it has Italo-Celtic roots and is an Anglicised version of either the French name Cherie (from ...
(founder of the Black Resource Centre
The Australian Union of Students (AUS), formerly National Union of Australian University Students (NUAUS), was a representative body and lobby group for Australian university and college of advanced education students. It collapsed in 1984 and ...
in Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, later Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
) and Sue Chilly
Sue or SUE may refer to:
Music
* Sue Records, an American record label
* ''Sue'' (album), an album by Frazier Chorus
* " Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)", a song by David Bowie
Places
* Sue Islet (Queensland), one of the Torres Straits isla ...
(co-founder of Black Women's Action
Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes (16 August 194314 November 2010) was an Australian poet and author. She was a lifelong campaigner for Indigenous land rights, as well as human rights and women's rights.
Early life and education
Born Roberta Barkley Pat ...
in Sydney) were colleagues at the APF.
Publications
''Identity'', first published in 1971, was a national quarterly magazine. It was produced in Sydney until 1974, and then in Perth.[ Its content encompassed topics "from robust debate about political issues to community profiles featuring local football teams". It celebrated the achievements if both famous and less well-known people, and attracted a wide readership, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.]
In July 1975 (volume 2, issue 5), the title changed to ''Aboriginal and Thursday Islander Identity'', with the following issue changing to ''Aboriginal and Islander Identity''.[
Editors of ''Identity'' included Barrie Ovenden, ]John Newfong
John Newfong (3 November 1943 – 30 May 1999) is an Aboriginal Australian journalist and writer. A descendant of the Ngugi people of Moreton Bay, he was the first Aboriginal person to be employed as a journalist in the Mass media in Australi ...
, Jack Davis, Les Malezar, and Jack Waterford.[
In 1980, it was self-described as "a national magazine of Aboriginal and Islanders views, opinions and style and t was aimedat promoting Aboriginal and Islanders talent in the various forms of Art".(''Identity'', 4 (1), October 1980. p.1).][
''Identity'' ceased publication with volume 4, number 7, in June 1982, after the AAB withdrew its financial support. Much effort was put into cutting costs and trying to find alternative funding, including in 1983/84 from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, but this was not forthcoming.][ The last issue included the transcript of an address given by Charlie Perkins, then chair of the Aboriginal Development Commission, to the ]Uniting Church
The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Unio ...
Synod, entitled "The 1988 Bi-centennial: No cause for celebration". After his address, the Synod resolved not to participate in any of the celebrations unless some progress was seen in advancing Aboriginal rights.[
Back issues of ''Identity'' are available online on the ]AIATSIS
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), established as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIAS) in 1964, is an independent Australian Government statutory authority. It is a collecting, ...
website.[ The magazine is also fully indexed in an online resource provided by the State Library of New South Wales, the ]Australian Indigenous Index
The State Library of New South Wales, part of which is known as the Mitchell Library, is a large heritage-listed special collections, reference and research library open to the public and is one of the oldest libraries in Australia. Establi ...
, or INFOKOORI. This is an index to the ''Koori Mail
The ''Koori Mail'' is an Australian newspaper written and owned by Indigenous Australians since 1991. It is published fortnightly in printed form and electronic copies are available. Owned by five community-based Aboriginal organisations based ...
'', as well as to biographical information from various magazines, including ''Identity'' (full run); ''Our AIM
Australian Indigenous Ministries, formerly Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia (both AIM), is an interdenominational Christian organisation that provides ministries to Aboriginal Australians. Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia was establi ...
'' (1907-1961); and ''Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's hori ...
'' (1952-1969) / ''New Dawn'' (1970-1975).
The Foundation also published ''Aboriginal and Islander Forum'', which began in 1975 and ceased publication with volume 3, number 12, January 1978/ December 1979.[
]
Contributors
Other contributors to ''Identity'' included Kevin Gilbert, Doug Nicholls
Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls, (9 December 1906 – 4 June 1988) was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people. He was a professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter, ceremonial officer and a pioneering ...
, Bruce McGuinness, Reg Saunders
Reginald Walter Saunders, MBE (7 August 1920 – 2 March 1990) was the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army. He came from a military family, his forebears having served in the Boer War and th ...
, and Denis Walker (Kath Walker's eldest son).
References
Further reading
PDF
{{authority control
1970 establishments in Australia
1982 disestablishments in Australia
Organisations serving Indigenous Australians
Indigenous rights publications
Publications established in 1971