Bristol City Council has formally handed over 33 cultural objects to the Larrakia people of Australia's Northern Territory, including three-metre-long spears that had been stored in the city's museum for decades. The artefacts, collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were returned during an emotionally charged ceremony at the museum.
The objects, which include spears used for hunting fish and buffalo, some still decorated with red ochre, will be flown to Melbourne and then transported by truck to Garramilla/Darwin. The spears are too long for domestic flights. They are destined for the Larrakia cultural centre, set to open next year overlooking Darwin harbour.
Nigel Browne, a Larrakia and Wulna man who received the objects, said: 'This is the end of a four-year journey. To see the return of these cultural objects that were taken from Larrakia is very significant. They’ll be used not only to admire back home, but also teach a new generation of Larrakia how to craft spears.'
Some items are considered secret and sacred, and can only be handled by men. The earliest donation came from a Mr R Cuff in 1881, while others were donated by Marlborough College in 1934 and a relative of an English botanist in 1939. All had been in storage for at least 50 years.
Council leader Tony Dyer said: 'I think there is much for us to learn from this and much to share with others.' The council indicated it would continue repatriating objects taken by British colonialists.
