On Tuesday 31 May, National Archives of Australia held the second Dr Mickey Dewar oration on the land of the Larrakia people.

The oration was delivered by Pat Turner AM, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

The daughter of an Arrernte man and a Gurdanji woman, Pat acknowledged Aboriginal people as the country's original storytellers and the vital role National Archives has in protecting, preserving and providing access to the histories and stories of First Australians.

Mickey Dewar, who we are honouring tonight, knew the importance of stories, and of Aboriginal stories. She knew that the telling of the stories of our past would help create a more reconciled and honest future, something Aboriginal peoples are searching for.

Director-General Simon Froude outlined actions National Archives has taken to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reiterated a continued commitment to reconciliation.

As we build towards an expansion and elevation of our engagement programs with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we also recognise that there is still much that must be done. 

Connecting the work we do now to the shared promise of the future means the National Archives must actively work for continued and sustained improvement.

The Dr Mickey Dewar Oration is held every second year and celebrates the life and work of Dr Dewar (1956–2017), a respected historian and a three-term member of the Advisory Council.