What it is to be here
New relationships, new futures
A recent partnership between the Manchester Museum and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) has put Manchester in a unique place to make new relationships with the First Nations people of Australia.
The anniversary of Cook’s arrival also marks the expropriation of cultural heritage from First Nations people, some of which are in the Manchester Museum collection. The Return of Cultural Heritage project reunites people with their precious objects, which then travel to their original communities to be taken back into cultural practices and for safekeeping.
The Manchester Museum is returning secret sacred and ceremonial objects from their stores to their proper custodians. The repatriation programme promotes understanding between cultures and builds new relationships for the future.
Representatives of the Gangalidda Garawa Nation travelled from the Queensland Gulf area of northern Australia in 2019 to collect sacred and ceremonial objects from the Manchester Museum, and take them home.
During their visit to Manchester the delegation met with the city’s elders. The Portico Library welcomed representatives of Gangalidda Garawa people and the AIATSIS research team on a visit the Library and showed some titles from their collection that relate to the Gulf area of Queensland.
Mangubadijarri Yanner (L) and Donald Bob at Manchester Museum with the artefacts to be repatriated.Photograph: AIATSIS
Mangubadijarri Yanner:
It's extremely important; these items were returned as they are the tools that allow us to continue to practice, preserve and develop our culture that's been alive since the very first sunrise.
Hear more from Mangubadijarri and Donald Bob in NITV’s video of the Repatriation project with Manchester Museum here.
