Oral Histories

Oral Histories

The spoken word has been a powerful tool for the transmission of culture for Indigenous people for more than 50,000 years.

Traditional Indigenous culture does not include a written language and it is only since British settlement that Aboriginal history has been recorded in writing.

It therefore makes sense to hear about Indigenous life, and its laws, customs, family structure and spiritual beliefs, by word of mouth.

Oral histories such as those below provide valuable insights into life for Indigenous people.

Visit www.liswa.wa.gov.au to access Western Australia’s biggest collection of oral histories.

Dorothy Dimer - 'A Goldfields Life' Part 1

Bill Bunbury talks to Dorothy Dimer about her life growing up as in Mt Burgess in the Goldfields region.

Born in Higginsville in 1929, Dorothy's talks about her life as a Coolgardie resident, and recalls stories passed down from her father and other family members of the ealier years when the Europeans first came.

Dorothy Dimer - 'A Goldfields Life' Part 2

Part two of Dorothy's memories and recollections of life growing up in the Goldfields region talks about how people 'got about' or 'travelled,' and what kind of work and education was available to Aboriginal people during the 'depression times' (circa 1930s).

She also recalls her good fortune at not being removed from her parents at an early age to be schooled in a Mission as were so many of her peers.

Dorothy Dimer - 'A Goldfields Life' Part 3

The final part of Dorothy's story tells of how Aboriginal families were not wanted in the towns and how they were segregated to life on Aboriginal Reserves. Dorothy also speaks about her marriage and of belonging to the land.

In her final words for this recording, Dorothy comments,

"I see my life, it's a very good life - yeah, we were happy family. We had no problems."