Emeritus Professor David Trigger
Emeritus Professor

David Trigger

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Background

David Trigger works on the different meanings attributed to land and nature across diverse sectors of society and in different countries. His research encompasses academic studies of how land and sense of place inform the cultural identities of citizens with diverse ancestries. His research is mostly focused on Australian society. In Australian Aboriginal Studies, Professor Trigger has carried out more than 35 years of anthropological study on Indigenous systems of land tenure, including applied research on resource development negotiations and native title claims. In collaboration with colleagues he has in recent years sought understanding of the overlaps and divergences of senses of place among those with Euro-Australian, Asian and Aboriginal ancestries. This work includes projects focused on a comparison of pro-development, environmentalist and Aboriginal perspectives on land and nature. Of particular interest are the issues of ‘nativeness’ and ‘invasiveness’ as understood in both nature and society, with implications for issues of land, cultural identity and environmental management.

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Trigger is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Anthropology Human Society

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Land, identity, indigeneity and cultural change

    Professor Trigger's interests encompass the relationship between land and cultural identity. His applied research focuses on negotiations over the legacy of colonialism in Australian society.

Research impacts

Professor Trigger is a leading scholar in applied anthropological research on Indigenous land negotiations in Australian society. His impact is made directly through participation as an expert witness and researcher in native title claims, heritage matters and agreement making between Aboriginal groups and other land users. This work involves collaborations with legal practitioners and other professionals in the area of economic development and environmental management. Indirectly the impact of his work is through publishing the results of research and teaching students. He has a large number of research higher degree scholars for whom he provides supervision.

Search Professor David Trigger’s works on UQ eSpace

119 works between 1976 and 2025
All (119) Journal Article (59) Book Chapter (36) Conference Publication (7) Book (3) Other Outputs (14)

61 - 80 of 119 works

2009

Other Outputs

Report on aspects of the laws and customs acknowledged and observed by the Waanyi people of North West Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia

Trigger, David (2009). Report on aspects of the laws and customs acknowledged and observed by the Waanyi people of North West Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia. Waanyi People's Native Title Determination Application: Federal Court of Australia Proceedings QUD 6022 of 1999. Unknown:

Report on aspects of the laws and customs acknowledged and observed by the Waanyi people of North West Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia

2008

Journal Article

'Refugees from wild time', review of the 'The tall man: Death and life on Palm Island' by Chloe Hooper & 'Gone for a song: A death in custody on Palm Island by Geoff Waters

Trigger, David (2008). 'Refugees from wild time', review of the 'The tall man: Death and life on Palm Island' by Chloe Hooper & 'Gone for a song: A death in custody on Palm Island by Geoff Waters. Australian Book Review, 304, 9-10.

'Refugees from wild time', review of the 'The tall man: Death and life on Palm Island' by Chloe Hooper & 'Gone for a song: A death in custody on Palm Island by Geoff Waters

2008

Journal Article

Indigeneity, ferality, and what 'belongs' in the Australian bush: Aboriginal responses to 'introduced' animals and plants in a settler-descendant society

Trigger, D. (2008). Indigeneity, ferality, and what 'belongs' in the Australian bush: Aboriginal responses to 'introduced' animals and plants in a settler-descendant society. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 14 (3), 628-646. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9655.2008.00521.x

Indigeneity, ferality, and what 'belongs' in the Australian bush: Aboriginal responses to 'introduced' animals and plants in a settler-descendant society

2008

Journal Article

Ecological restoration, cultural preferences and the negotiation of 'nativeness' in Australia

Trigger, D., Mulcock, J., Gaynor, A. and Toussaint, Y. (2008). Ecological restoration, cultural preferences and the negotiation of 'nativeness' in Australia. Geoforum, 39 (3), 1273-1283. doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2007.05.010

Ecological restoration, cultural preferences and the negotiation of 'nativeness' in Australia

2008

Other Outputs

Improving capacity in Native Title research

Trigger, David and Hiley, Graham (2008). Improving capacity in Native Title research. St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Anthropology Program, School of Social Science.

Improving capacity in Native Title research

2008

Book Chapter

Ecology and Identity: A Comparative Perspective on the Negotiation of "Nativeness"

Mulcock, J. and Trigger, D. (2008). Ecology and Identity: A Comparative Perspective on the Negotiation of "Nativeness". TOXIC BELONGING? Identity and Ecology in southern Africa. (pp. 178-198) edited by Dan Wylie. Newcastle UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Ecology and Identity: A Comparative Perspective on the Negotiation of "Nativeness"

2008

Book Chapter

Place, belonging and nativeness in Australia

Trigger, D. (2008). Place, belonging and nativeness in Australia. Making Sense of Place: Exploring concepts and expressions of place through different senses and lenses. (pp. 301-309) edited by Frank Vanclay, Matthew Higgins and Adam Blackshaw. Canberra: National Museum of Australia Press.

Place, belonging and nativeness in Australia

2006

Journal Article

Whales, Whitefellas and the ambigity of nativeness

Trigger, David S. (2006). Whales, Whitefellas and the ambigity of nativeness. Island, 107, 25-36.

Whales, Whitefellas and the ambigity of nativeness

2005

Journal Article

Forests as spiritually significant places: nature, culture and `belonging' in Australia

Trigger, David and Mulcock, Jane (2005). Forests as spiritually significant places: nature, culture and `belonging' in Australia. The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 16 (3), 306-320. doi: 10.1111/j.1835-9310.2005.tb00313.x

Forests as spiritually significant places: nature, culture and `belonging' in Australia

2005

Journal Article

Culture as concept and influence in environmental research and management

Head, Lesley, Trigger, David and Mulcock, Jane (2005). Culture as concept and influence in environmental research and management. Conservation and Society, 3 (2), 251-264.

Culture as concept and influence in environmental research and management

2005

Conference Publication

Mining projects in remote Aboriginal Australia: Sites for the articulation and contesting of economic and cultural futures

Trigger, D. (2005). Mining projects in remote Aboriginal Australia: Sites for the articulation and contesting of economic and cultural futures. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop, Sydney, Australia, 30 November - 1 December, 2004. Sydney, Australia: Sydney University Press.

Mining projects in remote Aboriginal Australia: Sites for the articulation and contesting of economic and cultural futures

2005

Conference Publication

Teaching multidisciplinarity: Lessons from an Honours practicum

Mulcock, Jane, McNamara, Beverley and Trigger, David (2005). Teaching multidisciplinarity: Lessons from an Honours practicum. Melbourne, Australia, 2 October, 2004. Melbourne, Australia: School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, The University of Melbourne.

Teaching multidisciplinarity: Lessons from an Honours practicum

2004

Book Chapter

Anthropology in native title court cases: 'Mere pleading, expert opinion, or hearsay'

Trigger, David (2004). Anthropology in native title court cases: 'Mere pleading, expert opinion, or hearsay'. Crossing boundaries: Cultural, legal, historical and practice issues in native title. (pp. 24-33) edited by Sandy Toussaint. Carlton, Vic., Australia: Melbourne University Publishing.

Anthropology in native title court cases: 'Mere pleading, expert opinion, or hearsay'

2003

Journal Article

Language, Culture and Science: Reflections on the Work of George Seddon

Trigger, David S. (2003). Language, Culture and Science: Reflections on the Work of George Seddon. Thesis Eleven, 74 (1), 89-104. doi: 10.1177/07255136030741007

Language, Culture and Science: Reflections on the Work of George Seddon

2003

Journal Article

Large-scale mining in aboriginal Australia: Cultural dispositions and economic aspirations in indigenous communities

Trigger, D. S. (2003). Large-scale mining in aboriginal Australia: Cultural dispositions and economic aspirations in indigenous communities. AusIMM Bulletin (2), 58-62.

Large-scale mining in aboriginal Australia: Cultural dispositions and economic aspirations in indigenous communities

2003

Book

Disputed Territories: land, culture and identity in settler societies

David Trigger and Gareth Griffiths eds. (2003). Disputed Territories: land, culture and identity in settler societies. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Disputed Territories: land, culture and identity in settler societies

2003

Book

Disputed Territories: Land, Culture and Identity in Settler Societies

Trigger, David S. and Griffiths, Gareth (2003). Disputed Territories: Land, Culture and Identity in Settler Societies. Hong Kong University Press.

Disputed Territories: Land, Culture and Identity in Settler Societies

2003

Book Chapter

Introduction: Disputed territories: Land, culture and identity

Trigger, David S. (2003). Introduction: Disputed territories: Land, culture and identity. Disputed Territories: land, culture and identity in settler societies. (pp. 1-28) edited by David Trigger and Gareth Griffiths. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Introduction: Disputed territories: Land, culture and identity

2003

Conference Publication

Native vs exotic: Cultural discourses about flora, fauna and belonging in Australia

Trigger, D. and Mulcock, J. (2003). Native vs exotic: Cultural discourses about flora, fauna and belonging in Australia. 1st International Conference on Sustainable Planning and Development, Skiathos Island, Greece, 2003. Southhampton, The United Kingdom: WIT Press. doi: 10.2495/SPD051272

Native vs exotic: Cultural discourses about flora, fauna and belonging in Australia

2003

Book Chapter

Introduction disputed territories: Land, culture and identity

Trigger, David S. (2003). Introduction disputed territories: Land, culture and identity. Disputed Territories: Land, Culture and Identity in Settler Societies. (pp. 1-27) Hong Kong University Press.

Introduction disputed territories: Land, culture and identity

Past funding

  • 2018
    Clancestry Cultural Mapping Project - Southeast Queensland
    Queensland Performing Arts Trust
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Supplementary report for the Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Peoples' native title claim
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    From illustration to evidence: the potential of photographs for Indigenous native title claims in Australia
    ARC Discovery Indigenous
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Waanyi Cultural Materials Research Project
    Waanyi Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Supplementary Report for the Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Peoples' native title claim
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Gangalidda Native Title Connection Report
    HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Cultural Heritage Research (Native Title - Warlangurru Project)
    Mr Benjamin Laurel on behalf of the Warlangurru Community
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Lardil People traditional land and sea estates and rights holders project
    Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Boojamulla National Park Aboriginal Land Act claim
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Burke Shire Council Cultural History Project
    Burke Shire Council
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Gangalidda Eastern Area Expert Native Title Report (2nd extension)
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Yindijibarndi native title project
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    CLCAC: Normanton Native Title Claim Report
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Gangalidda Eastern Area Expert Native Title Report
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Matter of a potential overlap between pending and existing Native Title Claim (Kurtijar and Kowanyama People)
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Gaangalu Nation Native Title Claim - Connection Report
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Yirendali Connection Report - Phase 2
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Barada-Barna Native Title Matter
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Gangalidda Eastern Area Expert Native Title Report
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012
    CLCAC: Gulf Country Water Survey
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Monitoring and evaluating Moreton Bay and its catchments as a socio-ecological system
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012
    A social science e-research hub for data management, analysis and dissemination in material and visual culture
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Land and identity: comparative studies of belonging in Australia's Gulf Country
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012
    UQ Category 1 Travel Award - David Picard
    UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 1)
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Yirendali Native Title matter
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Thalanyji Native Title matter
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011
    CLCAC - Gangalidda & Garawa Peoples
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Gaangalu Nation Native Title Claim Group
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Widji Native Title Matter
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    The Caroline Tennant-Kelly Ethnographic Collection
    Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Transforming Qualitative Research: Creating, preserving and re-using digital data
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009
    A 3D Laser Scanner for Collaborative Cultural Heritage and Anthropological Research
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Creating new research opportunities in archaeological & anthropological science
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Improving capacity in the native title system
    Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2010
    Isolation, Insularity and Change in Island Populations - an Interdisciplinary Study of Aboriginal Cultural Patterns in the Gulf of Carpentaria
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Trigger is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor David Trigger directly for media enquiries about:

  • Anthropology
  • Australian Indigenous Studies
  • Environmental anthropology
  • Land use negotiations
  • Native Title

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