AustLit

'‘The people of Borroloola are expressing what a lot of First Nations people are feeling across Australia, that this is a waste of their time…they have their own voice and they are prepared to use it’ (Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy in Allam 2018). Each edition we thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to commit to the promise of research. They permit, champion, enable and participate in research to teach people more about who we are, how we live and our hope for a self-determined future. You would not blame them being discouraged at the latest attempt to impose English language and even ways of thinking onto Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (Allam 2018). Ethical, quality research conducted with our people is crucial in such situations: research provides evidence of the damage caused by the paternal approach in Indigenous affairs, including the use of schools to ram home assimilation. Research also shows us how acts of cultural resurgence lead to strong, healthy communities. Research is still a good medium for us to speak for ourselves. ' (Editorial introduction)