Our services
Aboriginal Heritage Assessments and Surveys
Big Island Research has extensive experience in archaeological heritage assessment, advice and reporting. Our team is highly proficient in all aspects of heritage assessments, including archaeological surveys, site recording and management, excavations, salvage, dating, artefact analyses, inventories and audits, cultural material storage, consultation, significance assessments, cultural values mapping, and impact assessments. We also have in depth knowledge of West Australian heritage legislations and their application.
Big Island Research ensures that our clients heritage requirements are thoroughly considered throughout all assessments. We are highly cognisant of the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and integrate this into all aspects of our praxis. We encourage and facilitate the active participation of Traditional Owners in all aspects of heritage assessments to ensure cultural authority and cultural safety are maintained and outcomes are collaborative and informed.
Big Island Research understands that Traditional Owners need to be confident that their culture and heritage needs will be thoroughly considered throughout all assessments. We aim to consistently and comprehensively investigate, record, analyse and report heritage to the highest available technical standard.
Cultural Heritage Management
Big Island Research is highly experienced in managing cultural heritage. We offer a broad range of heritage management services including gap and risk assessments, development of comprehensive cultural heritage management systems – including policy and procedure design – process mapping and analysis, development and delivery of heritage training and inductions, collections management and interpretation. We are also experienced in developing Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) and compliance audits and reviews.
Our approach is to work openly and collaboratively with our clients and Traditional Owners to develop pragmatic and ethically sound ways of working together to ensure that cultural heritage is cared for and managed appropriately.
Archaeology and Heritage Research
Big Island Research maintains a strong research focus. Our team publishes and reviews research papers in recognised academic journals, delivers presentations at national or international conferences, presents research outcomes to communities, teaches undergraduate and postgraduate classes at the University of Western Australia, supervises postgraduate students and collaborates on research projects across Australia.
Our team are committed to ongoing research and development to improve our efficiency, accuracy and transparency in our work. We also proactively engage in local, national and international archaeological and heritage communities and associations. In this way, Big Island Research actively aims to participate in, and engage with, important developments in archaeology and cultural heritage management.
Our strong research footprint and engagement allow us to inform our practice and ensure that we undertake our archaeological and heritage work – including Aboriginal archaeological excavations – to the highest standard in methodology, process and outcome. Our research objectives and methods are developed in close consultation with Traditional Owners while our conclusions are reached collaboratively.
Cultural Mapping
The identities of Aboriginal people, their cultural practices, Law, social systems and spiritual beliefs are intrinsically interconnected and tied to Country. To map these webs of meaning and value is to create a record of landscape that is animated – not a map in a static western sense – but one imbued with life, movement, language, spiritual significance and practice.
Big Island Research provides cultural mapping services to help custodians of Country research, document, and integrate the cultural values of land and landscapes into their Healthy Country Plans and Cultural Heritage Management Plans.
Contact us
If you would like to discuss a project or would like more information, simply contact our office using the following details.
bigisland@bigislandresearch.com.au
5/64 Canning Highway
Victoria Park, WA, 6100