Threads
Finding the Threads
Reconnection, identity and the stories that sit between the records. Finding the Threads is a narrative-informed approach to exploring reconnection, identity, Country, movement and the gaps that can exist within Aboriginal family stories.
When gaps become stories
Sometimes those gaps can become individual stories.
Finding the Threads creates space to step outside the disconnection story and become curious about what happened around it. It brings together narrative practice, historical context, records, Country, community knowledge and reflection to explore the threads that remained — including those colonisation, removal, displacement and Western systems made harder to see.
Looking differently
Reconnection isn't about filling every gap — or finding one document that tells someone who they are.
It can mean:
- Understanding movement as survival rather than simply disconnection
- Hearing stories held by family and community
- Understanding what was happening on Country at the time
- Returning to places
- Looking differently at records
- Noticing what knowledge, relationships and connections survived
The resource
Finding the Threads Guide & Reflection.
A supported space to explore a person's own journey of reconnection — bringing together practical ways of tracing information with narrative reflection, creating space to think about not only what is found, but what those discoveries mean to the person.
Tracing the threads
Country, birth places, movement, records, archives, stories and community knowledge.
Understanding what happened around them
Placing movement alongside colonisation, missions, removals, exemption systems, foster care and other historical and systemic forces.
Stepping outside the disconnection story
Exploring stories such as “not knowing enough,” “not belonging” or “being disconnected” — and becoming curious about what contributed to them.
Re-authoring connection
Noticing survival, resistance, relationships, knowledge and connections that continued despite disruption.
Request the Guide & Reflection
The Guide & Reflection is available by request, so the resource can be shared with context around its purpose and intended use.
For organisations
Bring Finding the Threads to your organisation.
Finding the Threads can be delivered as a one-day professional learning workshop for organisations wanting to strengthen practice around identity, reconnection and disrupted family stories.
The training isn't about teaching professionals to become experts in somebody else's identity. Instead, it explores how workers can walk alongside people in ways that recognise the person, their family and community as the knowledge-holders of their own stories.
One-Day Organisational Training — tailored to your organisation, workforce and practice context.
The training can explore
- The Finding the Threads approach
- Narrative practices for stepping outside stories of disconnection
- Understanding movement through survival and resistance
- Reading records alongside historical and colonial context
- Working respectfully with gaps, contradictions and missing information
- Country and community knowledge alongside written records
- Narrative and reflective questioning
- Practical application within everyday professional practice
Request
Start with a yarn.
01 — Guide & Reflection
02 — Organisational Training
Important practice note
Finding the Threads is not about proving identity.
It does not determine, validate or decide somebody's Aboriginal identity. It creates space for reconnection, reflection and understanding — while recognising the histories and systems that have contributed to the gaps people may be trying to make sense of.
Healing through story. Strength through connection.
Curious about how Finding the Threads could sit alongside Ngawilyi's other supports?