First Nations

Explore the museum's keeping place of conversations with community relating to past exhibitions, research and public programs related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures.

The Australian National Maritime Museum acknowledges many contributions by Individuals, communities, artists and staff and is a reservoir of knowledges relating to the museum's custodianship and ongoing responsibilities to freshwater and saltwater.

Tunku and Ngaadi

Vivid Sydney 2025

Tunku and Ngaadi is a Dreaming story from the south coast of NSW told and illustrated by Walbunja and Ngarigo artist Cheryl Davison and sung by Djinama Yilaga Choir.

Tunku and Ngaadi will be shown daily from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June from 6pm until 11pm. We encourage viewing from nearby vantage points – Pyrmont Bridge or King Street Wharf.

Current Exhibitions

Mäṉa and Bäru – The Sea Country of Guykuda Munungurr

exhibitions

First Nations knowledge

First Nations stewardship

First Nations craftsmanship and arts

Pram

Mäṉa and Bäru – The Sea Country of Guykuḏa Munuŋgurr

Open now

Photo of video work on a screen, showing an animation of an aborigional boy lighting a small fire

exhibitions

First Nations

First Nations knowledge

First Nations seafaring

First Nations stewardship

Barani – a Sydney Harbour Story

Open now

exhibitions

First Nations

First Nations knowledge

First Nations navigation

Pram

Shaped by the Sea

Open now

Featured object – Eel Trap

A traditional Aboriginal woven eel trap made in Berri, South Australia by Ngarrindjeri artist Yvonne Koolmatrie. Made from a bundle of coiled sedge reed stems with a simple loop stitch.

Search our First Nations objects collection

Mäṉa and Bäru – The Sea Country of Guykuda Munungurr

Kisay Dhangal (Dugong)

Mokuy Spirit

Au Karem Ira Lamar Lu – Ghost Nets of the Ocean

Artist – Alick Tipoti

Bardi

Saltwater bark

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Saltwater Cloud

This is a dedicated space created to highlight voices and works of community. In consultation with Community, we will continue to build on this selection of featured First Nations people.

Au Karem Ira Lamar Lu – Ghost Nets of the Ocean

Au Karem Ira Lamar Lu - Ghost Nets of the Ocean exhibition is the largest collection of ghost net art in the Southern Hemisphere. They carry a message from the Torres Strait for the world to heed: the oceans are connected to everyone. Humans everywhere are affecting the world's oceans.

Shaped by the Sea – Stories of deep time Australia

Storytelling of the seascapes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island worlds are at the heart of Australia’s deepest memories. Trade networks of coastal materials interconnect with song lines across the continent which shape distant kinship across the Australian continent and its island cousins...

Deep time – The Digital Experience

Deep Time is the digital experience accompanying Shaped by the Sea. As the first feature experience for Garrigarrang Garaguru, it explores the behind-the-scenes stories of new exhibitions by The Yidinji dancers (Cairns), the Mulka centre in Yirrkala (Yolgnu) presenting the groundbreaking DHAŊAN DHUKARR (many pathways) and Alick Tipoti (Badu Island TSI).

Bidhiinja – restoring our oyster reefs

Bidhiinja is a Dharawal language word for the oyster. The plight of oyster reefs has been nearly invisible. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Australian National Maritime Museum have joined forces to share the stories of these reefs and DPI’s efforts with project partners to restore them...

Featured Community

Thomas Mayo

Sharon Mason

Alick Tipoti

From our education team

School programs and online resources perfect for school students learning about First Nations

Group of students in a maroon and yellow school uniform looking a possim skin cloak.

excursions

First Nations knowledge

First Nations

School program

Barani

excursions

First Nations

First Nations knowledge

First Nations seafaring

First Nations stewardship

Bamal Badu

A male museum educator stands with 4 students around him onboard the Duyfken

excursions

Dutch seafaring

School program

First contacts: tall ship Duyfken

1606 - Contact at Cape Keerweer

This education resource introduces students to the Duyfken, which was the first European vessel to meet the First Nations people of Australia on Wik country on the Cape York Peninsula in 1606.