Public Outreach and Professional Discipline: Chronicling the Anthropological Society of Western Australia

1
Public Outreach and Professional Discipline
Chronicling the Anthropological Society of
Western Australia

• Greg Acciaioli (Anthropology Sociology,
• The University of Western Australia)
• with contributions from
• Edward McDonald (Consulting Anthropologist,
  Ethnosciences)
• Chris Griffin (Communications and Arts, Edith
  Cowan University)

2
Anthropological Societies in the Early
Institutionalisation of Anthropology

• 1840s-1890s Museum Period ? Ethnological
  Associations Period
• Société Ethnologique de Paris (1839)
• Ethnological Society of London (1843) ?
  Aborigines Protection Society (1837)
• Anthropological Society of London (c. 1862)
• Merger The Anthropological Institute of Great
  Britain and Ireland (1870)
• vs. Founding of Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
  Ethnology only in 1866
• Forerunners in Leiden and St. Petersburg

3
Institutionalisation of Anthropology in Australia
(1)

• Presentations and discussions in various Royal
  Societies, esp. branches of Royal Geographical
  Society
• Anthropological Society of Australasia
  (1895-1914)
• Journal
• Australasian Anthropological Journal (to 1898)
• Science of Man and the Australian Anthropology
  Journal (N.S., to 1900)
• Science of Man Journal of the Royal
  Anthropological Society of Australasia (to
  Societys end)
• Semi-popular focus documentation recording
• Ethnology as the proper term to define this
  focus?

4
Institutionalisation of Anthropology in Australia
(2)

• Establishment of first academic programs in
  Anthropology
• Department of Anthropology at University of
  Sydney (1925)
• Board of Anthropological Research at University
  of Adelaide (1926)
• Complementary rise of associations
• 1926 Anthropological Society of South Australia
  (ASSA)
• 1928 Anthropological Society of New South Wales
  (ASNSW)
• 1932 Anthropological Society of Victoria (ASV)
• 1948 Anthropological Society of Queensland (ASQ)
• mid 1950s (abortive?) Anthropological Society in
  Darwin (exact title?)
• 1958 Anthropological Society of Western Australia
  (ASWA)

5
Institutionalisation of Anthropology in Australia
(3)

• Scope of societies closer to American (4-field)
  model
• Social ( Cultural) Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Physical Anthropology
• Linguistics
• Material Culture
• Link to museums
• Applied Anthropology
• Humanitarian impulses of societies and
  associations

6
Anthropological Society of New South Wales
(ASNSW)

• Impetus from the Australian Museum, not
  Department of Anthropology
• Parallel British precedent first professional
  anthropologists were museum curators
• Later a stronger association with Department of
  Anthropology
• Venue for meetings after first few

7
Umbrella Organisation Australian Anthropological
Association (1939)

• Established by ASSA, ASNSW, ASV
• Seen as successor to Royal Anthropological
  Association of Australasia
• Objects to promote through co-operative effort
  the science of Anthropology and to take public
  and official action in the interests of
  Anthropology, as may be deemed desirable.
• Journal Mankind
• Published by ASNSW (since 1931), now as organ for
  AAA
• No fixed set of officers
• Rotate among executive councils of affiliated
  state societies (later include ASQ, ASWA too)
• Handover at meetings of the Australian and New
  Zealand Association for the Advancement of
  Science (ANZAAS)
• Meetings of Section F for Anthropology in
  association with AAA
• No real activities beyond meetings at ANZAAS?

8
Founding of Anthropological Societyof Western
Australia (ASWA, 1958)

• Follow ASNSW model
• Slightly after establishment of Anthropology at
  UWA
• Initial constitution by-laws (1959) modelled on
  those of ASNSW (1945 version)
• Poised institutionally in intersection of
  University, Museum, and Native Welfare Department
• Interim committee
• Dr RM Berndt, Centre for Anthropology UWA
• Dr WDL Ride, Director of the West Australian
  Museum
• Mr FWG Anderson, Deputy Commissioner of Native
  Welfare
• Dr Catherine Berndt, Centre for Anthropology UWA
• Mr VN Serventy (Sec-Treas), West Australian Museum

9
Tension in formulation of Aims

• Not first attempt to found such a Society
• Failure to materialise in AO Neville era
• Tension of scientific and humanitarian/administrat
  ive impulses
• Editor of Mankind/Treasurer of ASNSW to RM
  Berndt For Gods sake, keep it scientific and
  discourage crackpot sentimentalists from joining
• Need for disciplining expressions of Anthropology
  in the state and through the AAA the country as
  whole
• E.g. investigating qualifications of Dr.
  Hossfeld, discoverer of Aitape skull in PNG
• Parallel earlier tensions in Ethnological Society
  of London
• Humanitarian vs. scientific impulses

10
Scope and Orientation of Inaugural Meeting

• Speakers at first meeting
• Mr FWG Anderson ASWA as neutral ground for
  interchange of ideas of value to administrators,
  esp. in Department of Native Affairs
• Subsequent correspondence fear of ASWA becoming
  a pressure group
• Professor Joe Lugg (UWA Department of
  Biochemistry) Relation of Anthropology
  Genetics
• Dr WDL Ride role of West Australian Museum in
  regard to anthropology
• Dr RM Berndt
• Maturity of anthropological theory
• Problems demanding attention
• Aboriginal adjustment to changing conditions
• Dangling carrot of assimilation
• Vexed question of citizenship status
• Indonesian claims to West New Guinea, or West
  Irian
• Dutch-Australian administrative cooperation and
  the position of the indigenous New Guinea peoples
• Greater understanding by Australians of the
  cultures and societies of Asian peoples
• Generally
• Particularly Asian student adjustment in this
  country
• Problems of rapid change and technological
  emphasis in our own society
• Choice in a large number of situations
• Tightening of controls in others

11
Differences from early societies

• Predominant impetus from Academic Anthropology
  program
• Secondary influence from State Museum in WA case
• Eventual formation of own Museum in academic
  context
• Different constituency
• Studentsgt layfolk
• Aim disciplining students productive and
  segregating
• ASWA started way back when we were
  undergraduates - when Peter Lawrence was here
  (1961?), it just emerged from the Department. It
  was a sort of meeting place for people with an
  interest in anthrop and sort of forum for talks.
  It was Uncle Ronnies sort of link with the wider
  community really only it wasnt that wide, it
  was mostly students.
• ASWA included members of the community it was
  an attempt to promote anthropology in the
  community. Though most of the members were
  students Ron was very keen that honours students
  attended meetingsIt was an academic society
  really I was quite impressed with it. There were
  not many members of the public mainly students,
  almost all the graduate students and staff were
  members.

12
Relations with West Australian Anthropology and
Sociology Students Association (WAASSA)

• ASWA subsidising of WAASSA student journal
• Ilchinkinja ? eidos ? Ilchinkinja
• WAASSA subsidising of ASWA functions
• Representation of postgraduate students in ASWA
  executive
• Realisation of Elkins model of proper
  integration into university activities

13
Developing orientation Objects of the society
in the 1959 Constitution

• Cribbing from ASNSW Constitution
• Objects
• (a) To promote the study of General Anthropology
  with special emphasis on the Australian
  Aborigines. The fields to be included are Social
  and Cultural Anthropology, Physical Anthropology,
  Ethnology, Archaeology, Genetics, Linguistics and
  Semantics.
• (b) To provide a common medium and meeting place
  for people interested in these subjects, and
  facilitate the interchange of ideas.
• (c) To encourage interest and research in these
  fields.
• (d) To act as a body in matters relating to these
  topics.
• (e) To encourage teaching and research in
  Anthropology in the University of Western
  Australia.
• (f) To encourage anthropological teaching and
  research, as well as public interest in the
  relevant collections within the Western
  Australian Museum and assist in the collection of
  objects for that Institution.
• (g) To take a lively, but informed, interest in
  matters of native welfare in this State as in
  Australia generally. (Constitution and By-Laws of
  the Anthropological Society of Western Australia
  undated draft, c. 1959).
• Increasing emphasis in development of society on
  humanitarian/administrative issues of Indigenous
  welfare
• Publicising the need for tightened customs
  regulations and prohibitions on sale of sacred
  objects
• (Co-)sponsorship of art exhibitions aesthetic
  appreciation of Aboriginality
• Publicising survey of Aboriginal unemployment and
  poverty
• Eventually, vehicle of influence on drafting of
  Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972)

14
Role of ASWA in Demise of AAA (1)

• Early tension concerning urging of members to pay
  higher membership fee to include subscription to
  Mankind
• Undated circular letter from C.M. Berndt,
  President (1961-2)
• The journal Mankind is the official organ of the
  combined Anthropological Societies of Australia,
  of which our own Society is one. It was
  established in 1935-36 and, along with the
  journal Oceania has pioneered the publication of
  anthropological materials. At first it was
  published only by the New South Wales
  Anthropological Society, but other State
  Societies (as they were formed) joined the
  parent body It is vitally important that
  members of the different Anthropological
  Societies should support what may be regarded as
  their own journal.

15
Role of ASWA in Demise of AAA (2)

• Letter of W.D.L. Ride of Western Australian
  Museum in reply
• I appreciate the views which you have expressed
  about the need for support for the journal
  MANKIND but I see no reason why we should
  consider that this should be taken as a Society
  matter instead of a matter for individuals to
  have to consider in their support of things
  anthropological. I say this because MANKIND is
  not published by the combined anthropological
  societies of Australia but by the Anthropological
  Society of New South Wales. While I appreciate
  that the Anthropological Society of New South
  Wales requires support for MANKIND, I can see no
  reason why they should consider it is in any way
  our journal unless they are prepared to give us a
  voice in its organization and editorship and, in
  return, we should be prepared to pay a portion of
  the running costs. Surely the time has come for
  us to make a definite stand in this matter.

16
Role of ASWA in Demise of AAA (3)

• Letter of RM Berndt to ASNSW Secretary after 44th
  ANZAAS Congress (Uni of NSW, 1972) meeting in
  which the moves to set up the Australian
  Anthropological Society to succeed Association of
  Social Anthropologists discussed
• AAA as a body in name only, with no officers
  except those elected by constituent societies
• Mankind published under the auspices of the AAA,
  but by and for the ASNSW
• Editorial board and other officials all from the
  University of Sydney Department of Anthropology
• No decision making role of ASWA in policies of
  Mankind

17
Role of ASWA in Demise of AAA (4)

• RM Berndts demands for re-organisation for AAA
  to reflect opinions and aims of its constitutent
  Societies
• Executive Board be elected from the
  office-bearers of the constituent societies for a
  2-year period. Such a board must constitute the
  effective executive committee (Board) of the
  Anthropological Societies of Australia and be
  empowered to transact its businesss. Need for
  strict parity of constituent State societies to
  transact its business
• Executive Board with its newly drawn up
  Constitution to meet at least once within a 2-yr.
  period
• Association to take over publication of the
  journal Mankind so that it may effectively become
  the official organ of the combined societies
• Executive Board needs to appoint an editorial
  committee to manage and publish journal under its
  own auspices
• Business of journal and its publication should be
  rostered among the constituent societies,
  State-wise along the lines of the present
  practice of the American Anthropologist

18
Role of ASWA in Demise of AAA (5)

• Discussion of overall lack of definition of AAA
  at its general meeting at 45th ANZAAS (Perth,
  1973)
• Transfer of AAA Council of Management to members
  of ASWA
• Passing of resolutions in line with Berndts
  demands by Council of Management in Perth
• Circular requesting that all societies affiliated
  to AAA demonstrate constitutional authority for
  this
• Resolution to disband AAA after unsatisfactory
  meeting at 1975 ANZAAS
• Final disbanding at AAA meeting held at 1977
  ANZAAS
• Motion by RH Pearce from ASWA agreed to that
  since the Australian Anthropological Association
  has not functioned for several years, the
  constitution be formally terminated and the books
  and papers be offered to the National Library,
  and the the Editor of Mankind be informed of
  this resolution and requested to delete all
  reference to the Association from the journal.

19
ASWA after 25 years

• Silver Jubilee (1983)
• Particularly celebrate applied interventions
  (e.g. Noonkanbah)
• Strengthening of orientation to Indigenous issues
• Transition to pressure group status feared by
  FWG Anderson?
• Emergence of problems in disciplining
  professional practice
• Less emphasis on disciplining students?

20
ASWA Interventions in Noonkanbah

• Historical record emphasise RM Berndts
  intervention
• That evening Professor Berndt issued a statement
  that was the lead story in the West Australian on
  the morning of 2 April. He demanded a halt to
  drilling on the station, and criticised the
  Governments repeated direction of the Museum
  Trustees. He also called for the appointment of a
  specialist group to assist Amax in negotiating
  with the Community, and for a Royal Commission to
  look into all matters relating to Aboriginal
  land rights. The Western Australian
  Anthropological Society sic supported his call
  and attacked Grayden and the Government. (Hawke
  and Gallagher, Noonkanbah Whose Land, Whose Law
  1989 207)
• Contrast with reticence in specific interventions
  in past
• Purveyor of expert advice
• A priestly role

21
ASWA Interventions in Noonkanbah

• Motions tabled and passe at prior ASWA Special
  meeting called on 31 March, 1980
• 1 That this Society reaffirms its support of the
  principle of the need to protect Aboriginal sites
  of significance to living people, and
  furthermore, reaffirms that the nature of sites
  should in each instance be determined on the
  basis of professionally collected and presented
  anthropological evidence.
• 2 That this Society calls on the Minister for
  Cultural Affairs and the Trustee of the Western
  Australia Museum to give effect to the spirit of
  the Aboriginal heritage Act by asking AMAX Mining
  Company to cease operations at Noonkanbah and to
  reopen discussions with the Aboriginal community.
• 3 That in any discussions taking place between
  the Government, the mining company and the
  Aboriginal community at Noonkanbah, the
  professional advice of anthropologists and
  archaeologists be taken into account.
• 4 That this meeting asks the Executive Committee
  of the Society to pursue the recommendations made
  tonight with the Minister for Cultural Affairs as
  a matter of urgency, and to take such additional
  steps as may be required.
• 4(i) That this meeting affirm that information
  about Aborigines derives in the first place from
  Aborigines themselves.
• 4(ii) That this meeting deplore the action of the
  Government in having ignored the professional
  advice of anthropologists in their handling of
  the Noonkanbah issue.
• 5 Motion 4(ii) was put again as a substantive
  motion of the meeting.
• 6 That the Executive Committee call a further
  meeting in two weeks time to report on the
  outcome of their meeting with the Minister.
• Release of these motions as a press statement
• Sent to all Indigenous communities in Western
  Australia and to interested bodies in the rest of
  Australia

22
ASWA Interventions in Noonkanbah

• Deputation to Minister Grayden on 2 May 1980
• Discussions on possibility of a tribunal to
  consider interests of various parties
• Formation of an Aboriginal Heritage Subcommittee
  within ASWA (14 April 1980 Special meeting)
• Brief to examine all existing and proposed
  legislation relevant to ownership and protection
  to Aboriginal land
• Take note of impending changes to Aboriginal
  Heritage Act
• Motion urging AAS to to approach Trustees of
  Western Australian Museum and Western Australian
  Government to urge them to take into account
  professional advice of anthropologists in matters
  concerning Aboriginal people
• Motion to call for donations to support these
  activities

23
Tensions between academic and applied
orientations counterorganisations

• Formation and death of GRASS (Group Research and
  Action for the Social Sciences)
• Attempts to form Australian Association for
  Applied Anthropology (AAAA) (53rd ANZAAS, 1983,
  Perth)
• Counterproposal and Decision (13 September 1982)
  to establish The Professional Association for
  Applied Anthropology and Sociology (PAAAS)

24
Subsidising of activities of ASWA

• Note cards intersection of public outreach and
  political intervention
• Partnership with UWA Anthropology Research Museum

25
Demise of ASWA? (1)

• Reduction of frequency of meetings
• Original monthly format from 1959 (10/yr)
• 2003-4 3
• 2004-5 1
• 2005-6 3
• 2006-7 0
• Declining audiences (levels of engagement)
• Approx. 50 recorded at initial 1958 meeting
• Probable peak at time of Noonkanbah meetings
• Current range of 15 5
• Largely academics from Perth universities
  anthropology programs
• General erosion of attendance by academics
• Culture of accountability Academic criteria of
  efficiency, exposure and impact
• ASWA activities not income-generating for
  universities (i.e. Development)
• Paucity of students except from campus hosting
  the meeting
• Virtual absence of members of general public
  unless formerly a student in one of these
  departments

26
Demise of ASWA? (2)

• Transitions
• No longer a forum of engagement with general
  public
• Ethnographic exposure in infotainment 4 Corners,
  Late Line, Asia Pacific, Message Stick, Foreign
  Correspondent, Global Village, etc.
• Rise of reality TVs virtual exoticism
• BBCs Tribe and more recent variants in the
  Netherlands, Australia, etc.
• Infotainment
• Up-to-date information on NGO web sites accessed
  conveniently at will through the internet
• Television as the cause of declining rates of
  civic participation (Robert Putnam on social
  capital)
• Socialisation of younger generations into image
  culture
• Plethora of images, Ways of Seeing (Berger, 1972)
• Image as cool vs. written and spoken word
• Celebrity as source of community, Amusing
  Ourselves to Death (Postman 1987)
• Pragmatic/strategic orientation of current
  university generation?
• Getting a life beyond the bounds of campus
• Lifelong education as part-time training to be
  balanced with other activities (jobs, etc)
• Student life not campus-focussed

27
Demise of ASWA? (3)

• Exceptions in attendance
• Better attendance at social events than ordinary
  meetings with presentations
• Fun Sociation
• Retention of professional engagement
• Indemnity insurance for professional
  anthropologists
• Careers night
• In many ways professional orientation of ASWA as
  the most capable of survival

28
Demise of ASWA? (4)

• A greater orientation to the professional
  orientation may not be the salvation for ASWA?
• Professionalisation of discipline also subject to
  centralisation
• Why have a code of ethics provided for ASWA for
  practitioners in Western Australia when already a
  code provided by AAS?
• General move from federated structures to
  centralised structures of association
• Transition from AAA to AAS in mid-seventies (beg.
  1972)
• An ironic unforeseen consequence of the very
  actions of state associations such as ASWA

29
Demise of ASWA? (5)Concluding queries on
possible bases for the continuing existence of
ASWA

• Is the sub-national state or regional association
  an institutions whose time of relevance has
  passed?
• The only regional, non-national associations to
  belong to the World Council of Anthropological
  Associations (WCAA)
• Member supra-national regional associations
• International Union of Anthropological and
  Ethnologicalo Sciences
• Association of Social Anthropologists of the U.K.
  and the Commonwealth
• European Association of Social Anthropologists
• Latin American Association of Anthropology
• Pan-African Anthropological Association
• Member sub-national regional associations
• Catalan Institute of Anthropology
• Catalonia as an autonomous nation within the
  state of Spain
• E.g. Paralleling such non-WCAA associations as
• Ankulegi (ANtropologia, KULtura Eta GIzartea)
  Elkartea (Anthropology, Culture and Society of
  the Basque Region)
• The Hong Kong Anthropological Society
• Special Autonomous Region (SAR) status for Hong
  Kong within China
• Should we declare an end to ASWA?
• or
• Do we need to declare Western Australia an
  autonomous region