April 2020 marked the 250th anniversary of James Cook’s first voyage to the east coast of Australia. This anniversary also marked the beginning of the large-scale removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material to collections institutions overseas. The Return of Cultural Heritage Project, a scoping project of two years duration, was established to build relationships between overseas collecting institutions, AIATSIS and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; develop a database of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections held overseas; and ultimately facilitate and secure the return of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage materials from overseas.
Building on foundations laid in the previous year, 2020 saw returns of cultural heritage material comprising 85 culturally significant objects to five Aboriginal language groups - the Aranda (central Australia), Bardi Jawi (Kimberley), Gangalidda and Garawa (north-west Queensland), Nyamal (Pilbara) and Yawuru (Kimberley). The material was returned from two institutions: Illinois State Museum (US), and Manchester Museum, University of Manchester (UK).
The returned material comprises secret/sacred, ceremonial and secular items including boomerangs, shields, spears, clap sticks, body ornaments and necklaces. Each return to country event was different and powerful in its own way, as traditional owners and communities gathered together to welcome their material home.
Throughout the year, AIATSIS corresponded with overseas collecting institutions to develop and maintain relationships, to research collection holdings and to support the development of the project database. Over 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage objects were identified during the project. Of the 199 institutions identified as having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections, AIATSIS made contact with 194. Of those, 146 responded and 124 were willing to share information about their collections. Half of those expressed an interest in working with AIATSIS and/or First Nations communities in some capacity, and 45 institutions expressed a willingness to consider a return request. This information has been collated in a database which will be made appropriately accessible in 2021.
Strong community partnerships based upon reciprocity and respect were critical to this success, ensuring that AIATSIS had the cultural authority to facilitate returns and that all material was handled and transported appropriately. When possible, international delegations of AIATSIS staff and community representatives accompanied the material home. Unfortunately the third and final delegation was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AIATSIS’ relationships with other Australian Government organisations helped to ensure the logistics of returning cultural heritage from overseas was as smooth as possible.
The project concluded on 30 June 2020. As well as achieving significant returns and compiling extensive information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material in overseas collections, this project has demonstrated the willingness of overseas collecting institutions to respond to the strong desire of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to have their material returned.