Introduction: Strings of Connectedness in Ian Keen’s Scholarship

Codesigned Archaeological Research in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory, Australia

“…As discussed by Levitus (2015:80), the changing political framework at this time “instigated a change in their [i.e., Bininj ] formal status from a passive, uninformed and disregarded population of onlookers to a central interest group whose participation in the affairs of the area had to be elicited.” Yet, although acknowledging “the increasing power of Aboriginal community to decide whether research is acceptable to them,” Allen (1978:21) noted that “Aboriginal control, at present, is restricted to the passive role of granting or denying access to sites or communities.” Haynes (2009:162) recounted Bininj often being surprised, confused, embarrassed, and hesitant about these newly granted powers.…”

“…Based out of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, George Chaloupka (e.g., 1975, 1976) then commenced a long-term relationship working extremely closely with Bininj —especially Nipper Kabirriki—to record bim . This relationship, between two men from wildly different milieus, was arguably “the most important single conduit for lodging the cultural significance of the Kakadu landscape in the archive and representing it in the public domain” (Levitus 2015:88). The knowledge and experience Chaloupka gained allowed him to lend strong support to Bininj throughout the Fox Inquiry.…”