In a historic and heartfelt ceremony at The Fowler Museum at UCLA, a collection of 20 culturally significant items was handed back to the Warumungu community of Tennant Creek.

The significant gesture marks the permanent and ethical return of these cherished artifacts that hold deep cultural importance to the Warumungu people.

The initiative for this meaningful return was spearheaded by the renowned Fowler Museum at UCLA, known for its dedication to global arts and cultures, focusing on Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Indigenous Americas.

Working closely with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), Australia’s primary national cultural institution preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, the process to identify and repatriate these culturally important objects began in March 2021.

Among the collection were items that had found their way into the Fowler Museum’s possession through various channels, including the Wellcome Trust, a substantial collection left behind by pharmaceutical entrepreneur and collector, Sir Henry Wellcome.

The items, ranging from clubs to knives and boomerangs, are now being unconditionally returned to the Warumungu community for safekeeping and care at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre in accordance with their traditions and customs.

Warumungu Elders, California State Senator Ben Allen, and Australian Consul-General Tanya Bennett attended the handover event, underscoring the significance of this cultural exchange.

The Fowler Museum’s commitment to collaboration with Indigenous communities and foregrounding Indigenous perspectives in its exhibitions and programming is a cornerstone of its ethos.

The return of the cultural artifacts symbolises a step towards reconciliation and truth-telling. It also supports the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and the preservation of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.

The collaboration between the Warumungu community, AIATSIS, and the Fowler Museum sets a powerful example of genuine partnership and respect for cultural heritage. “It’s very important that a lot of these artefacts are coming back for Warumungu people,” said Michael Jones Jampijinpa, a senior Warumungu man.

“Us Elders, we can teach our young mob about those things because they can’t just learn about whitefella stuff, they got to learn our ways too, our culture.”

The ceremony was pervaded by a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, as each speaker emphasised the importance of honouring cultural heritage and fostering meaningful partnerships.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 26 July 2024.