Loud cheers erupted when Colin Ahoy Junior graduated from UNE this week and officially grew the ranks of Aboriginal archaeologists working to safeguard our nation’s precious cultural heritage.
It was “Too Deadly” said the excited Anaiwan and Biripi man, who was back where his passion for archaeology ignited, celebrating alongside the family who has shared every high and low of his Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology) studies.
“There were moments when I didn’t think I’d get here, but the TRACKS (Tertiary Preparation) Program, Oorala Aboriginal Centre, UNE and my family made it possible,” said Colin, “and I wouldn’t have made it without my long-term tutor Danika Skye, who always pushed me to do better.”
Colin’s interest in pursuing archaeology as a career was sparked in 2018, while conducting an Indigenous heritage survey with his father Colin Senior, UNE’s Elder-in-Residence, and brother Steve, now UNE’s Cultural Heritage Advisor. On a site earmarked for a solar farm east of Uralla, Colin Junior and Steve rediscovered the Anaiwan Grinding Grooves used by their ancestors to manufacture stone axes and spear heads.
“That’s when I found my passion for going on Country and rediscovering the old places that our grandparents told us about, but we had never got to see,” Colin Junior said. “It was the gateway to learning about our history and cultural sites we’ve been locked out of and also given me a sense of belonging, and the things our old people were not allowed to talk about. I wanted to carry on my father’s legacy in the movement for Aboriginal Affairs.”
Subsequent cultural heritage consultancy work with his father and The Anaiwan Coalition helped give Colin Junior a “sense of purpose and identity”. “It was pretty special to walk in the footsteps of our old people. I could see that that’s what Anaiwan people did, that’s how they lived and moved about on Country. It was eye-opening and reconnected me with my culture.”
Completing his Bachelor’s degree took Colin seven years part-time and was not without its challenges. But he said the academic literacy skills he learnt during the TRACKS program stood him in great stead.
“I dropped out of school in year 9, so I had to learn what UNE expected. TRACKS gave me the confidence to do the work and to feel like I could belong at university.”
Now employed as a Specialist Cultural Heritage Officer with BHP Copper South Australia, Colin hopes he will inspire not only his own five children, nieces and nephews, but also other Aboriginal people to consider tertiary study.
“I hope they follow my lead, because I know where it can take you – that education is the key to success, as clichéd as it sounds. Getting this degree has opened doors that would never have been opened to me and it’s taken me places I would never have been. I’d never left NSW for 30 years before coming to Adelaide.
“I love my job and consider myself lucky to work in a field that I’m passionate about.
“Sometimes it’s not easy, but you can’t change things from the outside. You’ve got to have a seat at the table, to have input into decisions and relay decisions that impact broader communities.
“We need more Aboriginal archaeologists coming through and working in corporate Australia. It will help bring our shared history to all Australians, so that everyone can feel part of this country we live in, and love and respect it.”
Colin follows in the footsteps of his Aunty Cheryl Kitchener, who was one of the first Aboriginal archaeologists to graduate in Australia, also from UNE. The very first – Dave Johnston, director of Indigenous Heritage Australia – established the Australian Indigenous Archaeologists Association in 2010 and welcomes every new graduate.
“It’s a tough gig and we are at the frontline of trying to protect our cultural sites,” Dave said. “There are about 15 Aboriginal archaeologists working in Australia today and we need them to decolonise Australian archaeology, represent our communities fairly and to protect Australia’s Indigenous heritage. Every graduate is important and I congratulate Colin.”
UNE’s Adjunct Associate Professor Wendy Beck said Colin has overcome many hurdles to become a professional archaeologist. “We welcome Colin as one of the Aboriginal archaeologists who are shifting the discipline to more collaborative, ethical and community-driven practice,” she said.
Although he is justly proud of his achievement, Colin said it is not his alone.
“I have taken inspiration from people like my mother Phyllis Ahoy, father and great-grandparents Ethel McKenzie and Lenny De Silva, and this is a family accomplishment. They, and the mother of my children Nikki Rae, have been a big help, covering for me and taking the pressure off to enable me to study.”
Colin also thanks Associate Professor Dr Wendy Beck, Adjunct Associate Senior Lecturer John Appleton, Kate Carter, Barry McDonald, Dr Hsiao Goh and John Liston for their support.
And as for where his testamur will permanently reside, that’s not up for debate.
“It will go on my mother’s wall, alongside the honorary doctorate my father received from UNE in 2022. Hopefully it starts a trend for the next generation, to give them something to aspire to – proof that anything’s achievable if they put their minds to it.
“The man I once was taught me lessons. The man I am today carries responsibilities. The man I am becoming will leave a legacy.”
