Purai is an Awabakal word meaning “the world, earth”.
The Purai Global Indigenous History Centre is an exciting research initiative integrating global and transnational analytical perspectives and frameworks with research on Indigenous and diaspora histories and other related histories of race.
Drawing upon our extensive national and international connections throughout the world, Purai harnesses collaborations that lead to high-quality original research projects and the development of productive new knowledge networks.
By integrating Indigenous and transnational/transcolonial global historical scholarship with approaches from a range of disciplines, Purai aims to generate new and ground-breaking interdisciplinary research methodologies for the study of global Indigenous histories.
Looking Through Windows Programme
It started with a yarn that was transformed into a poem and grew into a video documentary, a community exhibition with a one-act play, opera piece and travelling exhibition.
Led by Dr Lorina Barker from the University of New England (UNE), Looking Through Windows: Tablelands, the coast to outback NSW is an oral history, artistic and multimedia project exploring the removal, dispossession and ‘protection’ of Aboriginal people in New South Wales and parts of Queensland and South Australia.
Part of the exhibition included a tin humpy recreated in the gallery's grounds.
But the exhibition wasn't the only event planned, a talk and tour for Young Adults in the Hunter area's refugee cohort and a weaving workshop at Wollotuka Institute were also part of Dr Barker's and Michael Brogan's (Taragara Aboriginal Corporation) busy schedule that week.
A closeup of a window in an old tin humpy
Humpy: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Looking inside a tin humpy
Humpy interior: Looking Through Windows exhibition
A tin humpy between two trees
Humpy in UoN Gallery grounds: Looking Through Windows
A tin humpy in the bush
Humpy installed in UoN Gallery grounds: Looking Through Windows exhibition
a long shot of a tin humpy in the bush
Humpy in UoN Gallery gardens: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Man standing in doorway of tin humpy smiling
Simon Mellor stands in the door of the humpy he recreated for the Looking Through Windows exhibition.
A man sitting on a rock looking directly at the camera
Taragara Aboriginal Corporation: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Two people looking at artwork in a gallery and talking to each other
Dr Lorina Barker talks to a member of the Hunter's refugee cohort: Looking Through Windows exhibition
People looking at artwork in a gallery
Members of the Hunter's refugee cohort on their Looking Through Windows exhibition tour
Young adults in art gallery listening to someone speak
Members of the Hunter's refugee young adult cohort listen to Dr Lorina Barker taking about the Looking Through Windows exhibition
Three people in an art Gallery addressing an audience
Mr Louis Ndagijimana (L) CEEHE Program Co-ordinator, Ms Gillean Shaw (C) UoN Art Curator and Dr Lorina Barker (R) Exhibition curator, UNE
A woman in an art gallery talking to a group of young adults from different ethnic backgrounds
Dr Lorina Barker (UNE) talking to young adults from the Hunter's refugee cohort about the Looking Through Windows exhibition
two young women in headscarves standing in front of two suitcases which are an exhibit in an art gallery
Two young adults from the Hunter's refugee cohort: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Four young men with their arms around each other standing in front of Aboriginal paintings
Four young men from the Hunter's refugee cohort: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Two young men standing in an art gallery in front of some exhibits on the wall
Two young men from the Hunter's refugee cohort: Looking Through Windows exhibition
a close up of raffia used for weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
close up of two women's hands weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Tables with women sitting down weaving with raffia
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Arial view, looking down on tables of women weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking through Windows exhibition
Different coloured raffia in the foreground. In the background 2 women weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Women sitting at tables weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
women sitting at tables weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
Close-up behind a woman wearing a woven earring doing some weaving
Weaving workshop, Wollotuka Institute: Looking Through Windows exhibition
The Inaugural John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture and Purai Showcase
It was an evening that will be fondly remembered for many years to come with distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO delivering the inaugural John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture at University House to an on-line and face-to-face audience of over 180.
As part of the Purai Global Indigenous History Centre showcase, the event focused on the unconventional legacies of Emeritus Professor Maynard and launched a webisode introducing the stories of historical individuals who had inspired Professor Maynard’s research and writing.
Co-director of the Purai Indigenous Global History Centre, Professor Victoria Haskins, rounded off the evening by showing how the centre fosters collaborative transnational and comparative Indigenous research networks, the Ayahs and Amahs: Transcolonial Servants in Australia and Britain 1780-1945 project being the most current of these endeavours.
Distinguished guests, students and speakers attending the Purai event
Purai Team: L-R Jason de Santola, Padraic Gibson, Cara Cross, Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Emeritus Professor John Maynard, Professor Victoria Haskins, Carole Johnston, Srishti Guha, Truman Smith, Sachiyo Tsukamoto, Jacqueline Wright
Distinguished guests & organisers of the Purai event
L-R: Loren Collyer, Rickelle Peris, Jade Nicholson & Tammy Small
Distinguished guests, students and speakers attending the Purai event
L-R: John & Marie Ramsland, Associate Professor Kathleen Butler & daughter, Phoebe Butler
Post Graduate students attending the Purai event
Wollotuka Students: Cara Cross and Truman Smith
Distinguished guests, students and speakers attending the Purai event
L-R: Jason de Santola, Padraic Gibson, Emeritus Professor John Maynard, Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt & Associate Professor Pauline Clague
Speaker at Purai event
Mr Nathan Towney, Pro Vice-Chancellor. Office of Indigenous Strategy & Leadership
Distinguished guests listening to the John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture
A captivated audience: John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture and Purai Showcase
Guest lecturer delivering the John Maynard History Lecture
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt delivers the inaugural John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture
Distinguished guests and speakers watching the Purai event
Associate Professor Pauline Clague
Speaker welcoming guests to the University of Newcastle
Professor Alex Zelinsky, Vice Chancellor, University of Newcastle
Speaker addressing audience
Professor Victoria Haskins, Purai Co-Director
Distinguished guests either side of Professor John Maynard
L-R: Jason de Santola, Padraic Gibson, Emeritus Professor John Maynard
Guest with Professor Maynard at Purai Event
Jason de Santola & Emeritus Professor John Maynard
Distinguished guests and speaker at Purai event
L-R: Jason de Santola, Amanda Kelly & Ray Kelly Senior
Guests attending the John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture & Purai Global Indigenous History Centre showcase
Invited guests: Lyndall Ryan (centre L) & Margot Ford (centre R)
Woman in lecture theatre introducing guest presenter
Head of School, Wollotuka Institute: Associate Professor Kathleen Butler
Invited female guest in audience
Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Excellence: Professor Jennifer Milam
Audience members listening to presentations
Invited guests: Nick Saunders (L) & Michael Lavarch (R)
Invited guests at the John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture and Purai Showcase
Purai Affiliate: Associate Professor Tamara Young (L), Nick Saunders (C) & Kevin McConkey
Invited guests speaking with Professor John Maynard
Emeritus Professor John Maynard (R) with invited guests
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.