The Australian Archaeological Association is delighted to offer the following pre-conference events: an Intercultural Communication workshop organised by Kellie Pollard and Yolngu Elders of Northeast Arnhem Land; three student workshops organised by AAA Student Representative Edward Cooper, and behind the scenes tours of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Intercultural Communication Workshop

Nhaltjan dhu ḻarrum ga dharaŋan dhuḏi-dhäwu ŋunhi dhu limurr gumurrbunanhamirr ga waŋanhamirr

Exploring and understanding a deeper story about intercultural communication

Emily Armstrong – Balanda (non-Indigenous Australian) Researcher, Lecturer and PhD candidate, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University
Yuŋgirrŋa Bukulatjpi – Yolŋu Researcher, Senior Warramiri woman, Yalu Aboriginal Corporation – from Galiwin’ku, North-East Arnhem Land
Dorothy Gapany – Yolŋu Researcher and retired bilingual Educator, Senior Gupapuyŋu–Daygurrgurr woman -from Galiwin’ku, North-East Arnhem Land
A/Prof Ḻäwurrpa Mapyilama – Yolŋu Research Supervisor, Senior Warramiri woman, Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University, Galiwin’ku, North-East Arnhem Land
Dr Kellie Pollard – Wiradjuri Archaeologist, ARC DAATSIA Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University

Intercultural communication is pivotal in connecting people who come from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This three hour interactive workshop explores concepts and processes that support intercultural communication and facilitate the co-construction of shared understandings between First Nations Australian people and non-Indigenous collaborators. Supported by presenters from different cultural backgrounds, workshop participants will be asked to reflect on their own intercultural communication styles and discuss how to strengthen their intercultural communication processes. There will be opportunities for interactive group discussions about the application of intercultural communication concepts to archaeological research and practice, with respect for the diversity within and between communities.

This workshop is based on research conducted by the presenters – Emily, Yuŋgirrŋa, Gapany and Ḻäwurrpa. These presenters are a collaborative team of Yolŋu (First Nations Australian people from North-East Arnhem Land) and Balanda (non-Indigenous) researchers. An article about the educational process that will be used in the workshop (Armstrong et al., 2022) is available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2070670 . The team’s research revealed key processes which Yolŋu and Balanda people recognise and enact to achieveeffective intercultural connection in one community. These intercultural communication processes help people achieve a “flow that comes when we’re talking” and in the workshop the research team represent communication processes with metaphors of the water’s journey through Yolŋu lands to meet the sea. Guided by the presenters, the workshop will: honour participants’ and collaborator’s voices; challenge systems that are inequitable and inaccessible for people from different cultural backgrounds; empower aspirations for enhanced intercultural communication that resonates with diverse audiences; and stimulate discussion about how to guide strong, ongoing relationships with Indigenous people.

Using Yolŋu place-based metaphors, workshop participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own cultures and processes of socialisation, their own ways of communicating, how these influences shape their working relationships and explore practical ways of connecting and working in partnerships. Dr Kellie Pollard will support participants to apply what they are learning to the field of archaeology – to reflecting on ways of being archaeologists by assisting participants to discuss how they connect with people who hold similar or different perspectives about archaeology. This workshop will appeal to those in the discipline who actively pursue opportunities to consolidate existing interpersonal skills in research with Australian First Nations people, or those who are new to methods and methodologies for doing research in ways that are respectful of First Nations Australian peoples’ preferences for working together. Registered delegates will be given a sample ofintercultural communication literature prior to this workshop.

Important – Please note that this workshop will be offered subject to two criteria: the availability, at the time of the conference, of the senior Yolŋu presenters to facilitate the workshop (ie., health issues not intervening) and secondly, enough interested delegates attend to secure optimal viability. To be viable, the workshops require 20 persons each – thus, 40 people.

There will be a subsidised fee of $200 per delegate to help cover travel costs for the Yolngu presenters traveling to Darwin from Galiwin’ku (a remote island in the Northern Territory). The conference committee is hoping to secure further funding for the workshop to reduce the cost to $100 per delegate, however if funding is not available, delegates will be required to pay the full fee of $200.  Payment upfront of $100 is required.  By booking this workshop, delegates undertake to pay an additional $100 if required, closer to the conference. The $100 paid upfront is non-refundable.

Armstrong, E., Gapany, D., Maypilama, Ḻ., Bukulatjpi, Y., Fasoli, L., Ireland, S., & Lowell, A. (2022). Räl-manapanmirr ga dhä-manapanmirr – Collaborating and connecting: Creating an educational process and multimedia resources to facilitate intercultural communication. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2070670

Tour of Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)

MAGNT have kindly offered to lead behind the scenes tours which will incorporate a walk and talk through the following storage facilities; Archaeology / Palaeontology / Geology / Dry Stores (animal taxidermy & skeletal).

Two sessions of approx. 45 mins each will run on Tuesday 6 December at 1.30pm & 3.00pm, and again post-conference on Saturday 10 December at 10.00am & 11.30am.

MAGNT tours are free, but must be pre-booked – limited to 15 persons per session. Click here to book. Once all places are filled, a waitlist will operate.

Artist’s Talk | Dylan Sarra

Dylan Sarra is Taribelang/Gooreng Gooreng artist from the Bundaberg region in Queensland. With a main focus on exploring identity and place, Sarra uses a range of disciplines such as print, digital works and sculpture throughout his arts practice. He is currently involved in research and development of cultural knowledge’s pertaining to his Telstra NATSIAA work ‘1972’.

Come listen and be intrigued by a talk given around the historical and present journey of the Burnett river petroglyphs, and gain a better understanding of why cultural heritage protection involves everyone. The presentation will be a fascinating insight to the past and an opportunity to learn something beyond the mainstream understanding of our First Nations people.

Free – Bookings recommended
Sunday, 11 December 2022
11:00 am – 12:00 pm ACST
Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory

Book Here (bookings are seperate to the conference)