Bringing Them Home: NLA Pilot Oral History Project (Added 6 July 1998) The Bringing Them Home report on the stolen generation recognised the importance of recording the testimonies of Indigenous people who were affected by the government's forcible removal policies. The report's first recommendation was that governments ensure adequate funding of "appropriate Indigenous agencies to record, preserve and administer access to the testimonies of Indigenous people". In response to this, the government announced in December 1997 that $1.6 million would be provided to the National Library of Australia to undertake a new oral history project. This project will "collect and preserve the stories of Indigenous people and others, including missionaries, police and administrators, involved in the process of child removals". The project will be divided into two phases, with an initial pilot project being run over the next twelve months to establish cooperation with Indigenous groups, and test oral history methodologies and management structures. In the pilot phase, 30 oral history interviews will be conducted. This will expand to between 300-400 interviews if the project proceeds. Drafts of the pilot project's "objectives" and "principles" are available for comment on the NLA's website (http://www.nla.gov.au/oh/bth/). The NLA is also keen to hear of any oral history projects with similar aims, so as to avoid duplication, and welcomes suggestions for membership of the Advisory Group and for interviewees. Further information: >>Bringing The Home: Oral History Pilot Project (NLA website) >>Bringing The Home - Report of the National Inquiry (AustLII website)

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