The items were acquired by a controversial British anthropologist more than 70 years ago. Manchester Museum is now returning them to the Anindilyakwa community.
Toy dolls made from seashells, a map made from turtle shells and other Indigenous heritage items have been handed back to members of a remote northern Australian community as part of renewed efforts among British museums to decolonise their collections.
Professor Peter Worsley had purchased, traded, and acquired the collection while undertaking fieldwork on the island for his PhD thesis on Aboriginal kinship in the early 1950s. Among the items Worsley collected were several armbands, known as errumungkwa in the local language, made on Groote Eylandt probably from lawyer-vine, which elders traditionally wore during some ceremonies, including funerals.Some 70 dolls made from shells, called dadikwakwa-kwa in the, are also in the collection, which were traditionally painted by parents for their daughters using intricate ochre designs, helping to strengthen cross-generational bonds within the community.
The museum has collaborated with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies during the past five years and hasThis current repatriation goes further, embracing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by returning material beyond the secret, sacred and ceremonial that are important to the traditions and memories of the Aboriginal community that made them.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sri Lankan Australian epic famila saga to return to Australian stage following hit UK tourThe award-winning 19-person show Counting and Cracking is headlining Sydney's Belvoir next year alongside international juggernauts The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and August: Osage County.
Read more »
‘It’s dangerous work’: new generation of Indigenous activists battle to save the AmazonCampaigners in Brazil use drones to document work of self-defence teams trying to stop environmental destruction caused by illegal mining
Read more »
Prison, police and youth justice overhaul on cards after landmark Indigenous reportThe Yoorrook Justice Commission’s first report has put the state government on notice, calling for urgent reforms and urging Premier Daniel Andrews to live up to his promises without delay.
Read more »
Help us monitor campaign advertising for the 2023 Indigenous voice to parliament referendumBy reporting ads – on TV, in print, online and on social media – you can help us keep campaign advertising more transparent
Read more »
Yes or no, when the voice vote is over Indigenous Australians will have to come togetherLike many of my mob, I now care less about the referendum than what comes after it
Read more »
Police overhaul needed to protect Indigenous Aussies: truth-telling bodyA damning report from Victoria's truth telling commission has recommended a transformation of police and child protection systems, to benefit Indigenous Australians.
Read more »