This article was written by Aboriginal Project Officer Bek Morrison for our magazine, embrace exclusive. You can read the full edition of this magazine here.
Bek Morrison examines artwork at the Berndt Museum of Anthropology
Before I started my recent internship at the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, I had no idea I would discover so much of my own family history in its archives.
During the internship, I gained experience on how to handle Indigenous material, including the best practice in packing and story of artworks and artefacts and preserving archive material. I also learnt about cultural safety in a museum context, communications, community engagement and event planning.
I was fortunate enough to host my mum, aunties and siblings in the museum archive.
As I took them around, we came across photos of my Nana’s sister when she lived at Mogumber Mission in a photo album that was in the possession of A.O. Neville. This was very significant as A.O. Neville was the Chief Protector of Aborigines in WA from 1915 to 1940. He was responsible for many Aboriginal children being stolen from their families.
We also found marriage certificates of my great-great-grandparents on my Nana’s side, as well as language cards documenting Noongar language.
Another highlight from the internship was being part of the Mervyn Street: Stolen Wages exhibition at the Fremantle Art Centre. Pop Mervyn was the lead claimant in the Stolen Wages case against the WA government, which he won in 2024, granting survivors and families of the Stolen Generations collective compensation of $180 million. I thanks him for his service to our Aboriginal communities, and spoke to my Nan, who was stolen for seven years, about how this impacted her and our family.
I also met Gurindgi Elders from the Northern Territory. We had a smoking ceremony to welcome them at the School of Indigenous Studies. With them was Brenda L Croft, a renowned Indigenous curator who has worked with many National and international museums in Indigenous spaces.
Working on real projects during my time at the museum has fuelled my passion for Indigenous-led anthropology.