‘Central Land Council and my Elders were working closely with AIATSIS, and we are so grateful that we got this really strong team that is driving this and people that understand our culture and the importance of objects, artifacts and our belongings.’
Mr Jimmy Frank Jupurrula, Warumungu Arrernte Man in Auckland, New Zealand.
Warumungu returns
| Number of objects | Return destination | Institution | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2 men's restricted items |
Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, Tennant Creek, NT | Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collections, University of Virginia, USA, |
Request submitted: Return celebration: |
|
4 items, (1 adze, 1 axe, 2 hooked boomerang) |
Interim AIATSIS, once opened Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, Tennant Creek, NT | Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland, NZ |
Request submitted: Return celebration: |
| 6 items (1 adze, 4 stone knives, 1 boomerang) | Interim AIATSIS, once opened Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, Tennant Creek, NT | Tūhura Otago Museum, Dunedin, NZ |
Request submitted: Return celebration: |
| 15 items (adze, knifes, clubs, axes, pendant, boomerang, pick, restricted object) | Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, Tennant Creek, NT | Fowler Museum, University of California, Los Angeles, USA |
Request submitted: Return celebration: |
| 9 items (boomerang, trough, axe, tomahawk, spear thrower, restricted object) | Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, Tennant Creek, NT | Horniman Museum and Gardens, London, UK |
Request submitted: Return celebration: |
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collections
The first return project with Warumungu of restricted objects from Kluge-Ruhe began mid-2020. They were returned to the Warumungu keeping place, Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, in Tennant Creek on 2 December 2021.
Senior Warumungu men and AIATSIS staff following a community engagement meeting about the objects, Tennant Creek, March 2020. Photo: Andrews Fahey, CLC.
Senior Warumungu men and AIATSIS staff following a community engagement meeting about the objects, Tennant Creek, March 2020. Photo: Andrews Fahey, CLC.
Senior Warumungu man, Mr Michael Jones. Photo: Shaun Angeles, AIATSIS.
Senior Warumungu man, Mr Michael Jones. Photo: Shaun Angeles, AIATSIS.
Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
In March 2021 began talks between senior Warumungu men and the Tumu Here Iwi Relationships Manager and curatorial staff at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum on the future of four items. These resulted in a return with a handover ceremony on 14 November 2022 in Auckland.
'We've looked after these taonga like they are our own and we are proud to be returning them to the Warumungu people on this momentous day.'
Mr. Matua Bobby Newson, representative of the Tāmaki Makaurau Iwi (local people of Auckland).
Representatives from Tāmaki Paenga Iwi and Auckland War Memorial Museum holding a welcome ceremony. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
Representatives from Tāmaki Paenga Iwi and Auckland War Memorial Museum holding a welcome ceremony. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
Jimmy Frank, Warumungu elder singing during the returns ceremony. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
Jimmy Frank, Warumungu elder singing during the returns ceremony. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
Tūhura Otago Museum
The Senior Warumungu Men’s in-depth knowledge of their cultural heritage and their generosity to share the traditional names, techniques of making, and utility of these objects was an essential part of the formal requests for returns from the Auckland War Memorial Museum and Otago Museum. Four items were returned in a handover ceremony on 17 November 2022 in Dunedin. On request of the community all items returned from New Zealand are held at AIATSIS until the extension of the art centre in Tennant Creek is finalised.
‘The museums are respecting us and they’ve been thinking about us. They weren’t the ones who took them [the objects], they just ended up there. We can still teach the young people now about these old things and our culture.’
Mr Michael Jones, Senior Warumungu Elder.
Stone knives and sheath amongst the objects returned. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
Stone knives and sheath amongst the objects returned. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
As reciprocal gift Senior Warumungu men Jimmy Frank Jupurrula and Laurance Williams Japangarti presented a boomerang made by Frank to a representative of the Kāi Tahu Iwi. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
As reciprocal gift Senior Warumungu men Jimmy Frank Jupurrula and Laurance Williams Japangarti presented a boomerang made by Frank to a representative of the Kāi Tahu Iwi. Photo: D Walding, AIATSIS.
