Conversations with Michael Aird
Michael Aird has worked full time in the area of Aboriginal cultural heritage since 1985, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Queensland. His main interest is urban Aboriginal photographic history.
In 2010, Sari Braithwaite filmed a series of short interviews with Michael in his office in Coomera, south-east Queensland.
Looking at Photographs, Seeing People
Photographs from the past can be incredibly valuable to us in the present. Michael reflects upon the importance of pulling historical photographs out of archives and libraries, and looking at these images.
The people in this photograph are believed to be from Durundur Station in Queensland. The photograph was taken by John Watson in 1867 in Brisbane. To learn more about this photograph, please click here.
Finding Family in Photographs
Michael has made an amazing collection of photographs of his family members – these historical photographs tell a lot about his history and his family’s story. But how do other descendents respond to finding photographs of their family?
To learn about the photographs in this short film, please click here.
Libraries, Archives and Aboriginal People
Across Australia and throughout the world, there are enormous collections of photographs of Indigenous Australians. Michael talks about the important role of libraries and archives in making cultural material accessible to Aboriginal people.
To learn about the photographs in this short film, please click here.