Mais Daun’taun, Volume 1

Abstract

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: This public history output arises out of the ARC Special Research Initiative for Australian Society, History and Culture project, ‘Reimagining Norfolk Island’s Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area’ (SR200200711). The project is situated in the field of critical heritage studies and aims to explore the role living heritage sites can play in resisting or reinforcing cultural injustices.

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: The zine, co-created with Norfolk Island community members, highlights the cultural significance of Daun’taun (Kingston) as a local heritage place. The zine presents stories, memories and reflections that capture locals’ sense of custodianship of and affective engagements with Daun’taun. The editorial contextualises participants’ contributions in relation to recent political tensions on Norfolk Island and scholarly literature on place and heritage.

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: As an arts-based method, the zine produced for this project acts as a tool of cultural justice. Research participants were engaged in a process of public history-making to collaboratively produce the zine’s content, which tells history on their own terms. This is significant given that heritage management and interpretation in KAVHA has historically ignored and erased heritage relating to Norfolk Island’s Pitcairn settlement in favour of preserving British colonial and penal heritage. Containing abridged versions of interview transcriptions, the zine provides an open access record of an important component of the project data set. The zine also features contributions in Norf’k, recognised by UNESCO as an endangered language.