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)

101 - 119 of 119 works

1995

Journal Article

"Everyone's agreed, the West is all you need': ideology, media and Aboriginality in Western Australia

Trigger, David S. (1995). "Everyone's agreed, the West is all you need': ideology, media and Aboriginality in Western Australia. Media Information Australia (75), 102-122.

"Everyone's agreed, the West is all you need': ideology, media and Aboriginality in Western Australia

1995

Conference Publication

Some aspects of cultural diversity throughout indigenous Australia

Trigger, David S. (1995). Some aspects of cultural diversity throughout indigenous Australia. National Native Title Tribunal Induction Course to increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other cultural perspectives in the native title process, Nedlands, WA, Australia, 1-3 December 1994. Perth, Australia: National Native Title Tribunal.

Some aspects of cultural diversity throughout indigenous Australia

1993

Journal Article

Australian cultural studies: radical critique or vacuous posturing?

Trigger, David S. (1993). Australian cultural studies: radical critique or vacuous posturing?. Anthropological Forum, 6 (4), 607-613. doi: 10.1080/00664677.1993.9967436

Australian cultural studies: radical critique or vacuous posturing?

1992

Book

Whitefella comin': Aboriginal responses to colonialism in northern Australia

Trigger, David Samuel (1992). Whitefella comin': Aboriginal responses to colonialism in northern Australia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Whitefella comin': Aboriginal responses to colonialism in northern Australia

1989

Journal Article

A recent phase of Aboriginal occupation in Lawn Hill Gorge: a case study in ethnoarchaeology

Robins, Richard and Trigger, David (1989). A recent phase of Aboriginal occupation in Lawn Hill Gorge: a case study in ethnoarchaeology. Australian Archaeology (29), 39-51.

A recent phase of Aboriginal occupation in Lawn Hill Gorge: a case study in ethnoarchaeology

1989

Journal Article

Racial ideologies in Australia's Gulf Country

Trigger, David S. (1989). Racial ideologies in Australia's Gulf Country. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 12 (2), 209-232. doi: 10.1080/01419870.1989.9993632

Racial ideologies in Australia's Gulf Country

1988

Journal Article

Equality and hierarchy in Aboriginal political life at Doomadgee, northwest Queensland

Trigger, David (1988). Equality and hierarchy in Aboriginal political life at Doomadgee, northwest Queensland. Anthropological Forum, 5 (4), 524-544. doi: 10.1080/00664677.1988.9967386

Equality and hierarchy in Aboriginal political life at Doomadgee, northwest Queensland

1988

Journal Article

REVIEW

Trigger, David (1988). REVIEW. Oceania, 58 (3), 235-236. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4461.1988.tb02279.x

REVIEW

1988

Book Chapter

Christianity, domination and resistance in colonial social relations: the case of Doomadgee, Northwest Queensland

Trigger, David S. (1988). Christianity, domination and resistance in colonial social relations: the case of Doomadgee, Northwest Queensland. Aboriginal Australians and Christian missions : ethnographic and historical studies. (pp. 213-235) edited by Tony Swain and Deborah Bird Rose. Bedford Park, SA, Australia: Australian Association for the Study of Religions.

Christianity, domination and resistance in colonial social relations: the case of Doomadgee, Northwest Queensland

1987

Journal Article

Languages, linguistic groups and status relations at Doomadgee, an Aboriginal settlement in northwest Queensland, Australia

Trigger, D. S. (1987). Languages, linguistic groups and status relations at Doomadgee, an Aboriginal settlement in northwest Queensland, Australia. Oceania, 57 (3), 217-238. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4461.1987.tb02215.x

Languages, linguistic groups and status relations at Doomadgee, an Aboriginal settlement in northwest Queensland, Australia

1987

Journal Article

Inland, coast and islands: traditional Aboriginal society and material culture in a region of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria

Trigger, D. (1987). Inland, coast and islands: traditional Aboriginal society and material culture in a region of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. Records of the South Australian Museum, 21 (2), 69-84.

Inland, coast and islands: traditional Aboriginal society and material culture in a region of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria

1986

Journal Article

Blackfellas and Whitefellas: the concepts of domain and social closure in the analysis of race relations

Trigger, David S. (1986). Blackfellas and Whitefellas: the concepts of domain and social closure in the analysis of race relations. Mankind, 16 (2), 99-117. doi: 10.1111/j.1835-9310.1986.tb00747.x

Blackfellas and Whitefellas: the concepts of domain and social closure in the analysis of race relations

1985

Other Outputs

Doomadgee : A study of power relations and social action in a north Australian Aboriginal settlement

Trigger, David S. (1985). Doomadgee : A study of power relations and social action in a north Australian Aboriginal settlement. PhD Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/200477

Doomadgee : A study of power relations and social action in a north Australian Aboriginal settlement

1983

Journal Article

Mortality rates in 14 Queensland Aboriginal reserve communities. Association with 10 socioenvironmental variables

Trigger, D. S., Anderson, C., Lincoln, R. A. and Matis, C. E. (1983). Mortality rates in 14 Queensland Aboriginal reserve communities. Association with 10 socioenvironmental variables. Medical Journal of Australia, 1 (8), 361-365. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1983.tb99412.x

Mortality rates in 14 Queensland Aboriginal reserve communities. Association with 10 socioenvironmental variables

1983

Book Chapter

Land rights legislation in Queensland: the issue of historical association

Triigger, D. (1983). Land rights legislation in Queensland: the issue of historical association. Aborigines, land and land rights. (pp. 192-201) edited by Nicolas Peterson and Marcia Langton. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

Land rights legislation in Queensland: the issue of historical association

1981

Journal Article

Blackfellows, whitefellows and head lice

Trigger, David S. (1981). Blackfellows, whitefellows and head lice. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Newsletter (15), 63-72.

Blackfellows, whitefellows and head lice

1980

Journal Article

Aborigines, anthropologists and the Aboriginal relics issue in Queensland

Trigger, David (1980). Aborigines, anthropologists and the Aboriginal relics issue in Queensland. Occasional Papers in Anthropology, 10, 148-154.

Aborigines, anthropologists and the Aboriginal relics issue in Queensland

1980

Journal Article

Young people and an old tradition

Trigger, D. (1980). Young people and an old tradition. Religious Traditions, 3 (2), 74-84.

Young people and an old tradition

1976

Other Outputs

Jewish identity in Brisbane : the youth

Trigger, David S. (1976). Jewish identity in Brisbane : the youth. Honours Thesis, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/203866

Jewish identity in Brisbane : the youth

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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