Searching for queer Indigenous ancestors through a PhD in Arts

 

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Life as a graduate researcher: Darcy Wallis

Darcy Wallis researches how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ people in the 20th century navigated their identities and fit into culture and community. Guided by the community, their PhD combines yarning research with archival evidence.

Darcy Wallis is a light-skinned, brown-haired Indigenous person

Darcy Wallis has wanted to do a PhD since they learned what a PhD is.

“I was a very nerdy kid,” they laugh.

Darcy is a PhD in Arts candidate in the Indigenous Studies program at the University of Melbourne.

“The kind of Indigenous research that we try to do is framed around the needs of the community,” says Darcy.

“Because there's obviously been a very long history of people coming in and doing research on what they think is interesting without actually consulting with the community. And that's often been harmful to Indigenous communities.”

Searching for evidence of how queer Indigenous people fit into culture and community

Darcy is searching for historical records of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ people. They seek to understand how queer Indigenous people navigated their identities and fit into culture and community.

“I'm coming with the assumption that we did. But there is a lot of Christianisation of Indigenous beliefs and homophobia that has been brought over by colonialism,” they say.

Darcy is a Dharug person and part of the queer community.

“We don't have to construct ourselves in history to make ourselves be real and whole as Rainbow Mob in the present. But there is still this desire for knowing who our ancestors were,” they say.

Once their research ethics application is approved, Darcy’s research will combine oral histories – yarning research – with archival evidence. Their search of the archives will focus on evidence from the 20th century, especially from the 1970s onwards. Earlier history would rely on mission records and documentation of legal cases.

“And that's not reliable when we're talking about how Rainbow Mob conceive their identities and live their lives,” Darcy says.

Darcy knows the records they’re looking for exist – but the knowledge is fragmented. Conversations with community members will direct Darcy’s search, both in where to look and what information the community wants found.

“A key part of my research methodology and probably general life philosophy is around relationality, which means everything is in a relationship with everything else,” they say.

In a research context, you're in a relationship with the people that you're researching, the people that you're researching with, and also in relationships with the knowledge itself. Darcy Wallis
Portraits of Indigenous folks in a warehouse-like space, lit by a skylight, at World Pride
Darcy received funding from Murrup Barak to attend the 2023 WorldPride festival in Sydney

A highlight of Darcy’s University of Melbourne experience so far was attending the 2023 WorldPride festival in Sydney. They attended the festival with funding from Murrup Barak, a University of Melbourne initiative that supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student community.

“There was a First Nations gathering space, which is where I spent some of my time. It was really good to meet and talk to people from all over,” Darcy says.

“I would bring up my research topic and there were all sorts of positive responses. I think one man said, ‘Oh, do you want to head over there, and you can interview me now!’”

Learn more about our graduate research options

How a PhD in Arts helps graduate researchers build skills and connections

The First Nations Gathering Space at World Pride was neon-lit, with plants and plenty of seating
Darcy spent part of their time at WorldPride in the First Nations gathering space

Darcy has three PhD supervisors. Dr Rachel Standfield is a historian, Dr Arlie Alizzi is a queer postdoctoral researcher in the Australian Centre and Professor Barry Judd is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at the University of Melbourne.

“I've got people who cover all the expertise,” Darcy says.

Having completed an Honours project supervised by Dr Standfield, Darcy followed her from another university to the University of Melbourne.

“I just think she’s fantastic,” Darcy says.

Darcy’s cohort of Indigenous Studies graduate researchers work in very different topics, from sport to creative writing. Yet Darcy likes to talk ideas through with them. It can be comforting to talk to people who understand the ups and downs of a graduate research degree.

A PhD means becoming a caretaker of knowledge

Darcy is completing their PhD part-time.

“If part-time wasn't an option, I couldn't do this PhD. I'm really lucky that the program is supporting me in doing it,” they say.

“It allows for different periods of productivity without me having to worry about falling behind.”

Darcy receives a part-time Research Training Program Scholarship to support their research. They have also found work opportunities through the University of Melbourne to support various research projects.

The work has been useful to Darcy as a source of additional income – but also to learn more about research they’re interested in. A Faculty of Arts Graduate Research Teaching Fellowship has also helped them gain teaching experience.

“It's definitely designed to guide you and increase your capacity to teach without throwing you in at the deep end,” Darcy says.

After their PhD, Darcy hopes to find work in academia. They’re looking forward to continuing to teach.

“I want to help teach the next generation of Indigenous students,” they say.

In their research, Darcy loves going down rabbit holes of evidence.

“I just really enjoy the process. I like doing the research: looking for things, thinking about things and learning about things,” they say.

“I’m going to be the caretaker of a lot of this really important knowledge.”

Learn more about a PhD in Arts

Banner: Darcy received special permission to participate in an intensive subject that is usually part of the Master of Cultural Conservation at the University of Melbourne. The subject takes students to Gija country in the Kimberley region, which is home to a popular art movement.

First published on 23 July 2024.

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