Brian Ross wrote on Sep 25^th, 2024 at 12:02pm:

Traditional owner William Ah Kit Jakamarra said it was an emotional time for the Warumungu community.

"These artefacts that the old people sat down and had a look at them and cried about them and said straight away, 'We want them to come back home,'" Mr Jakamarra said.

A photo of the famous hooked number seven boomerang or Wartilykirri being returned to the Warumungu community.
The famous hooked number seven boomerang, or Wartilykirri, is among the objects being returned. (Supplied: Horniman Museum and Gardens)

"I'm part of a stolen generation and we aren't accepted in terms like this but with this happening now we're coming together."

Warumungu elder Cliff Plummer Jabarula said the Central Australian community was glad to have the objects returned.

"This stuff has been taken away over 120 years ago and [it] going back home is a really special thing," he said.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) chief executive and Ngemba man Leonard Hill said it was a unique collection of objects, which included two of the "famous hooked number seven" boomerangs.

"There are a number of knives and sheaths that are also being returned [and] an axe," Mr Hill said.

"There is a secret men's object that is also being returned, [and] a spear thrower.
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Traditional owner William Ah Kit Jakamarra said it was an emotional time for the Warumungu community.

"These artefacts that the old people sat down and had a look at them and cried about them and said straight away, 'We want them to come back home,'" Mr Jakamarra said.

A photo of the famous hooked number seven boomerang or Wartilykirri being returned to the Warumungu community.
The famous hooked number seven boomerang, or Wartilykirri, is among the objects being returned. (Supplied: Horniman Museum and Gardens)

"I'm part of a stolen generation and we aren't accepted in terms like this but with this happening now we're coming together."

Warumungu elder Cliff Plummer Jabarula said the Central Australian community was glad to have the objects returned.

"This stuff has been taken away over 120 years ago and [it] going back home is a really special thing," he said.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) chief executive and Ngemba man Leonard Hill said it was a unique collection of objects, which included two of the "famous hooked number seven" boomerangs.

"There are a number of knives and sheaths that are also being returned [and] an axe," Mr Hill said. "There is a secret men's object that is also being returned, [and] a spear thrower.

"Sometimes communities look for that material to continue to be displayed … for the material to continue to tell a story about that community," he said. "Some communities look to repurpose and reimagine the use of that material through song or ceremony."

The objects will be temporarily taken to Canberra until they are ready to be received on Country by Warumungu elders in Central Australia, where they will be housed at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Arts and Cultural Centre in Tennant Creek.




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