Papers Relating to Crime and First Nations Peoples in the Northern Territory and Western Australia

Due to the nature of the records, the Archives reserves the right to restrict, limit or refuse access to any item/s without prior notice, on the basis of personal privacy or out of respect for the rights and/or beliefs of First Nations people in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library, Information and Resource Network (ATSILIRN) protocols.

This item contains papers relating to crime, punishment, administration of justice, and sentencing of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Bundle 1: 16 pages, contains papers relating to events in 1941 concerning the death and burial, and coronial inquest of a Central Australian Aboriginal man referred to as 'Lollylegs'. The documents are circulars discussing the events by witnesses and observors (including Olive Pink) who attended the inquest, and a paper, likely from the ANPR, which also includes an outline of APNR support for action by the Department of Native Affairs to amend deaths and burials provisions in Regulations being drafted under a new Native Administration Ordinance.

Bundle 2: 3 pages, contains a typescript document headed (in handwriting) 'Justice for Minorities'. It is an appeal for justice and rights in relation to conviction of Aboriginal people, and the admissability of women's evidence. The paper asks for a 'Petition of Rights' and cites cases of Aboriginal sentencing from Darwin in 1933 and from Wiluna in WA in 1937.

Bundle 3: contains collated extracts (7 pages) from news clippings from the West Australian between September 1937 and April 1938 detailing cases of crime, killings, trials and convictions involving Aboriginal people.