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.
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.
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
L-R: Loren Collyer, Rickelle Peris, Jade Nicholson & Tammy Small
L-R: John & Marie Ramsland, Associate Professor Kathleen Butler & daughter, Phoebe Butler
Wollotuka Students: Cara Cross and Truman Smith
L-R: Jason de Santola, Padraic Gibson, Emeritus Professor John Maynard, Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt & Associate Professor Pauline Clague
Mr Nathan Towney, Pro Vice-Chancellor. Office of Indigenous Strategy & Leadership
A captivated audience: John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture and Purai Showcase
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt delivers the inaugural John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture
Associate Professor Pauline Clague
Professor Alex Zelinsky, Vice Chancellor, University of Newcastle
Professor Victoria Haskins, Purai Co-Director
L-R: Jason de Santola, Padraic Gibson, Emeritus Professor John Maynard
Jason de Santola & Emeritus Professor John Maynard
L-R: Jason de Santola, Amanda Kelly & Ray Kelly Senior
Invited guests: Lyndall Ryan (centre L) & Margot Ford (centre R)
Head of School, Wollotuka Institute: Associate Professor Kathleen Butler
Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Excellence: Professor Jennifer Milam
Invited guests: Nick Saunders (L) & Michael Lavarch (R)
Purai Affiliate: Associate Professor Tamara Young (L), Nick Saunders (C) & Kevin McConkey
Emeritus Professor John Maynard (R) with invited guests
Professor Victoria Haskins’ journey into archival research began with a box of diaries, letters and photographs found in her aunty’s… Read more
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO delivered the inaugural John Maynard Aboriginal History Lecture at University House to an on-line and… Read more
Emeritus Professor John Maynard’s reputation as a trailblazer is well-deserved so it is only fitting that this historian, whose journey… Read more
It was the 1920 abduction and enslavement of Kath Apma Travis Penangke’s 11-year-old grandmother from Alice Springs by anthropologist, Dr… Read more
With the election of Purai’s joint Directors, Emeritus Professor John Maynard and Professor Victoria Haskins, to the Australian Academy of… Read more
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.
