Alice Duncan-Kemp was an empathetic observer of Mithaka culture, but her legacy is complicated

Alice Duncan-Kemp was a remarkable observer of Mithaka culture, born in 1901 and passing away in 1988. Growing up on a pastoral property named Mooraberrie in the Channel Country between Birdsville and Windorah in inland south-western Queensland, Duncan-Kemp was deeply connected to the Mithaka people through her childhood experiences.

Her four published books, along with one posthumously released, drew heavily on her intimate knowledge and empathetic perspectives of the Mithaka culture. These works played a crucial role in the 2015 native title determination that recognized the Mithaka people as the traditional owners of the region. The term "dreaming" in Tom Griffiths' title, "Alice’s dreaming", refers to Duncan-Kemp's unique concept of the childhood memories, writings, and experiences of Alice Duncan-Kemp.

Griffiths, an emeritus professor of history at the Australian National University, aims to explore the concept of "dreaminess" as it pertains to the white child, Alice, and her incorporation into Mithaka understandings of their Country, ancestral beings, stories, and songs. Duncan-Kemp's dream-like writings vividly depict the vibrant and interdependent world of the Mithaka people, showcasing their connection to the land and their roles in the pastoral economy.

While Griffiths acknowledges that the Mithaka people performed various ceremonial activities and everyday tasks, he does not entirely support the notion that they were respected 'landlords' of the pastoralists, as William Duncan's reference to them as such does not grant them legal title to property or the ability to extract rent from tenants.