Interpreting Tindale genealogical sheets
Norman Tindale produced hundreds of genealogies (family histories) based on interviews with members of Aboriginal families. Each genealogy is presented in the form of a family tree, which includes the use of specific symbols.
It may also be helpful to understand that the communities Tindale visited in Queensland were largely made up of Aboriginal people controlled by the Queensland government under the 'Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld)'. In the years immediately prior to Tindale's interviews the Queensland government's power to forcibly remove Indigenous people to reserves and missions was at its peak. It is possible that some of those interviewed were reluctant to share information with Tindale, were distrustful of his authority, or deliberately misled him.
Inaccuracy could have occured due to misspellings and name variations are relatively common and were probably the result of cultural and language difficulties. Other errors may relate to the short amount of time Tindale spent in each of the communities he visited.
The disruption of Indigenous oral history caused by forced separation from families (removals) may have also limited the family history information that Indigenous people could pass on to Tindale.
The Tindale genealogies may also reflect Indigenous classifications of family relationships which favour cultural protocols over biological relationships. For example, a man 'claimed' or classified as father may not be that person's biological father.
Last updated: 6th December 2010
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