Abstract
This thesis describes a journey towards replenishing my historical praxis through identifying the causes and conditions that produce meaningful historical discourse within the context of Indigenous, European and Chinese histories of the Pine Creek area in the Northern Territory of Australia. The sources of meaningful historical discourse lie within a multi-faceted approach to history that engages ethical frameworks, historiography, oral history methodologies, community, site visitation and reviewing written sources of history.Through this journey I identify the richness of local history as a discipline and as a vehicle for exploring theoretical discourses and deepening historical understanding. As part of this journey I explore local and regional historical discourses, environmental history, place studies, politics, heritage and public history, community and memory, mobility and settlement, remembering and forgetting.
My praxis has been 'Replenished' through identifying sources of meaningful discourse that form the core components of what I call Engaged history. Engaged history broadly describes the application of ethics in both the research process and in the writing of history. It encompasses both applied history in a community context, clarification of the subjects of, and motivation for, historical research and integration of my historical praxis with my general work experience and Buddhist philosophy. Engaged history identifies meaning at a practical and theoretical level and encompasses an holistic approach to writing and researching history.
| Date of Award | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Jim Cameron (Supervisor) |