Aboriginal History Specialist Helps Reconnect Families with Ancestral Knowledge in Adelaide

In Adelaide, Ali Abdullah-Highfold is being hailed as a "walking archive" for his dedicated work in helping First Nations people reclaim their familial heritage. For 28 years, Mr Abdullah-Highfold has served at the South Australian Museum’s Aboriginal family history unit, where he assists hundreds of individuals each year in navigating complex genealogical records to find missing relatives and ancestral ties. According to a report by ABC News on 6 July 2026, Mr Abdullah-Highfold helps between 300 and 500 people annually. His work is particularly impactful for members of the Stolen Generation, some of whom have seen photographs of their parents for the first time through the museum’s collection. He noted that being able to provide family history is deeply rewarding, often bringing both tears and laughter to those seeking closure and a sense of identity. The unit, which was established in 1988 by Mr Abdullah-Highfold's aunt, the prominent Ngarrindjeri elder and historian Doreen Kartinyeri, utilises a vast archive of cultural material. This includes the work of anthropologist Norman Tindale, who recorded Aboriginal culture and language between the 1920s and 1960s. Mr Abdullah-Highfold’s own great-grandfather, Clarence Long, contributed to these historical expeditions, helping to preserve knowledge that is now being used to revive culture and language. Kaurna elder Tim Agius, a member of the museum’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee, emphasized the importance of this work, stating that Mr Abdullah-Highfold provides a critical service that might otherwise take years through government channels. The museum currently houses the world's most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material, serving as a vital resource for health, wellbeing, and the healing of historical trauma through the reclamation of personal and community stories.