Courtney Henry - Charting a new course
In 2021, Courtney Henry worked as a research assistant for Central Desert Native Title Services in East Perth. She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Forensic Anthropology and has worked on compiling site and Dreaming information for Native Title compensation claims.
Native title is the recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have rights and interests to land and waters where they have practiced and continue to practice traditional laws and customs prior to British occupation. Native title claims can be complex and require Aboriginal people to prove they have had a continuous and unbroken connection to their country since colonisation. The work of anthropologists like Courtney in this field helps to address the dispossession and denial of land that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples faced from European settlers.
After completing a 6-week placement as an anthropology intern through the Aurora Summer Internship program, she was offered full-time work expanding on one of her internship projects.
Courtney studied forensic anthropology rather than social/ cultural anthropology which is the more traditional pathway. She only had a basic knowledge of cultural heritage and native title framed by her own personal experience of being an Aboriginal woman. She wanted to increase her scientific understanding and has now been able to develop her knowledge and skill with the support of her legal and anthropological supervisors which has also provided the opportunity to gain more cultural knowledge about Indigenous groups outside of her own.
“I recently had the opportunity to attend an ‘on country’ meeting and experience first-hand the process of establishing a native title claim in WA which was so interesting!”
Courtney moved to Western Australia from New South Wales to study for her Master’s degree, and she didn’t know anyone in Perth. “St Cat’s gave me a great opportunity to meet incredibly diverse and interesting people and make some lifelong friendships. I was able to access and enjoy so many opportunities, such as networking events and taking on leadership roles. Being a Residential Advisor was an amazing experience. I gained many new skills and had the opportunity to share my knowledge and guide new university students on their journey. Being part of the Dandjoo Darbalung family was incredibly special too. Belinda, Ben and the other students all became my ‘Perth Family’ and supported me throughout and after my Master’s degree.
One of my favourite memories was the Valedictory Dinner at the end of last year. It was a great chance to celebrate finishing my degree with friends and there is always so much excitement and anticipation for this event because of the beautiful theming and the sensational entertainment. I will always be so grateful to have had the opportunity to become part of St Cat’s.”
Courtney now works as a Senior Project Officer at the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, working with one of the most significant collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material in the world.
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