Steve Hopper

Let him stay.

And it took

I suppose, five years to understand the local politics a little better, to understand when to ask questions, when not to ask questions.

Mostly, I learned to be quiet and listen.

That was responded to warmly by the elders.

I realized I was genuinely...

for the long term, I wanted to hear them and if they were willing to collaborate in research with them so that we can look after their country, look after their animals and plants better than had been the case in the past.

it's like opening a new book.

A lot of the interaction with Western scientists and Aboriginal people has been acquisitive.

You know, when a scientist comes in and says, I've got a question, can you give me your take on it?

And when that happens, that's written down and then

The scientist walks away and writes it up as though it's a sole authored contribution without attributing who provided the information, why they thought it was important or anything like that.

So the second chapter in the book is about the Knapp family's oral history.

you know, we really have to respectfully engage in such a way that the transmission of knowledge that we do receive is acknowledged.

And that happens in science today worldwide.

You know, you collaborate with people, their names go on the papers you produce, and their contribution is acknowledged.

So why shouldn't the same happen with Aboriginal people?

And that's the way me and my team work.

We

acknowledge all the time that the intellectual property is not ours.