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This conversation is part of the HCNSW podcast series "First Nations Conversations" that looks at First Nations histories of resilience, survival, and resistance.

This episode of "First Nations Conversations" is the recording of the 2025 History Week panel “Living Histories: First Nations Creatives and Researchers in Conversation” which was presented at the Vere Gordon Childe Centre at the University of Sydney, in partnership with the History Council of NSW and the Powerful Stories Network. The panel, chaired by Jadzia Stronell, was in conversation with Lily-Thomas McKnight, Samantha Snedden, and Amy Davidson.

In this session, they reflect on how cultural, family, and community histories are woven into their work as creatives and researchers. Together, they ask: How can history live beyond the archive? And what does it mean to research and create in ways that honour intergenerational memory?

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Dr Aunty Rhonda Radley joins Jadzia Stronell to share her journey in language revitalisation, community work, education, and healing. She reflects on truth-telling around the Blackmans Point massacre, the responsibilities of academic engagement with Aboriginal histories, and speaks on her own stories of resilience.

Known in the community as Dr Aunty Rhonda Radley (Anjilkurri), a proud Birrbay/Dhanggati woman. She has 40 years’ experience working with Aboriginal people in education, land rights, cultural and heritage, caring for Country, women’s business and government and community organisations. As an active Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Rhonda promotes the revival of culture through language and practices. She advocates for Aboriginal languages to be learnt, spoken, taught and integrated into every-day life. Aunty Rhonda values the sharing of stories to teach cultural expressions, learn from others and connect to other people’s life journey. She uses poetry as a medium for truth telling, sharing culture and to highlight the impact of colonisation.

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Australian migration stories have tended to represent specific experiences of coming to Australia over our relatively short national history. But what does rethinking stories about mobility to, from, and within Australia offer historians and fellow story tellers? Leading historians Dr Sophie Loy-Wilson, Dr Yves Rees, and Dr Peter Hobbins will discuss overlooked narratives to challenge traditional views of what migration means for Australian history. By connecting past and present, the diversity of migration stories and their implications for understanding identities, place, and belonging will offer fresh perspectives for nuanced research and storying of our collective past.

The History Council of New South Wales is supported by the NSW Government via a grant from Create NSW.

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Music credit: 'The Path to Innovation' by Airae, licensed through Canva.

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