The AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage Project: Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Material Held Overseas and the Initial Challenges to Repatriating Material to Custodians

Abstract

This paper explores the first research phase of the AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage Project (2018)(2019)(2020); where AIATSIS scoped, researched and repatriated significant cultural heritage material from overseas collecting institutions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. In the initial research phase, the authors undertook a survey of international collecting institutions to scope their holdings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material culture and their willingness to repatriate significant objects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The results of this survey demonstrate a readiness of institutions to share collection records with AIATSIS and a desire by those institutions to have relationships with the First Nations represented in their collections. The authors also found a willingness by a considerable portion of international collecting institutions to consider the repatriation of cultural heritage material to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The final part of the paper evaluates the effectiveness of these collection records and associated public repatriation and deaccession polices to submit a repatriation request for the return of significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material to communities in Australia.Iain G. Johnston PhD was the Senior Researcher on the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. He is an archaeologist who has worked with Aboriginal communities in Kakadu National Park and western Arnhem Land. Tamarind Meara a senior archaeologist and community engagement officer, was a Research Manager on the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. She has worked for the South Australia Government and the private cultural heritage sector for more than 12 years with Aboriginal communities across Australia. Lyndall Ley was Executive Director of the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. She is a librarian who has worked extensively as an executive manager in local government in Queensland and Victoria. Christopher Simpson a proud Wakka Wakka man, was Director of the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. He has had extensive experience across the public service and was a Senior Advisor, Culture Department, to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Jason Lyons an Indigenous man of the Wiradjuri nation, was a Research Manager on the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. He is a teacher who has worked for the Australian Government for more than 25 years in Indigenous education and schools in the Commonwealth Department of Education. Rose Rutherford was a Research Officer on the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. She has previously worked with various environmental and cultural non-government organisations in Canberra and Darwin. Diana Quadri was a Research Officer on the Return of Cultural Heritage Project. She is an anthropologist passionate about Indigenous studies, cultural revitalization and repatriation. She has worked with indigenous communities in Ecuador and Peru, and most recently with Aboriginal communities i...