Welcome to the Australian Message Stick Database

Message sticks are carved graphic devices from Indigenous Australia, used to facilitate long-distance communication. This database is a digital repository of 2152 message sticks derived from worldwide collections and archives. It also stores images and records of message sticks that are now lost or destroyed.

The aim of the database is to reconnect message sticks with their communities of origin, and to encourage greater understanding of this unique communication system.

The data is safeguarded by the Indigenous Data Network in partnership with the Max Planck Society and Taragara Aboriginal Corporation.

Sensitivity notice

Artefacts and entries

Message sticks are public communication devices that go by many different names in Australian languages. Note that the English term 'message stick' is sometimes mistakenly used to refer to non-public sacred objects, of similar appearance, used in parts of Central and Western Australia. No sacred materials are included here. Each entry in the dataset is created from a composite of public sources, including manuscripts, published papers, and museum catalogues. The AMSD makes no representations, warranties or assurances (either expressed or implied) as to the accuracy, currency or completeness of the cited sources that inform each entry. Users of this dataset are also advised that locations of language groups or places shown on the map are approximate and do not always reflect current dynamics and relationships with respect to land.

Access conditions, copyright and ICIP

The AMSD does not claim or own any copyright or ICIP over any of the information, including records produced through our own field research. The dataset is intended for personal study only. For any other uses please review information in each record to find the traditional owners of the material (if available), the institution responsible for copyright management, and the original sources. Note that all non-public sources are excluded from the dataset. If you believe that we have included a restricted source in error, please contact us.

Deceased persons

Users of the dataset should be aware that in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, seeing images of deceased kin may cause distress and violate cultural prohibitions. A small number of entries includes images of people who are now deceased.

Repatriation policy

The images and metadata within this dataset are sourced from many locations across the world, but have a special value within their communities of origin. We respect the rights of Indigenous communities to retain full access to their cultural heritage and control over ICIP. We will make every effort to help re-archive materials of interest in local repositories with the participation of collecting institutions. We are also assisting in the repatriation of physical artefacts wherever this is desired by communities.