The remains of four Aboriginal ancestors have finally been laid to rest in a traditional ceremony after being returned to the Wellington Aboriginal community.
Minister for Heritage James Griffin said the repatriation of these remains was incredibly important for the Wiradjuri people of the Wellington Valley.
“The burial ceremony on Friday completed the repatriation process for 13 Aboriginal ancestral remains that were taken from the area from the late 1800s to the 1970s,” Mr Griffin said.
“The Wiradjuri people have finally been able to lay their ancestors to rest on Country at the Wellington Caves, and I hope this provides some comfort in what has been a long process.
“For many years, Aboriginal ancestral remains and objects were removed from their communities without consent and are held in a range of public and private collections within Australia and internationally. Returning these remains to their communities is the right thing to do.”
Local community members conducted a cultural ceremony for the remains after they were repatriated from the Australian Museum this week.
The repatriation process was led by Heritage NSW, in line with the wishes of the Wellington Aboriginal community.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the nine other sets of remains were reburied by the community at Blacks Camp, Black Rock, Yeoval and Wellington Caves between 2015 and 2017.
“This marks the end of a process that began in 2015 when the Wellington Aboriginal Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and Heritage NSW requested the return of several sets of remains from the Australian Museum,” Mr Franklin said.
Local elder Uncle Barry Smith welcomed the repatriation.
“This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Wellington. Our ancestors should not have been taken, but we can now finally lay them to rest,” Mr Smith said.
Australian Museum Director of First Nations Laura McBride said the repatriation of Wiradjuri ancestors back to their community is deeply important.
“This work is part of the Museum’s ongoing efforts to establish resting places for ancestors and promote healing, justice and reconciliation,” Ms McBride said.
Member for Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Wellington area has rich cultural heritage.
“These remains were brought to the Australian Museum after scientific explorations of the area in the late 1800s. I know the return of these ancestral remains for reburial is of great importance to the Wiradjuri people in Wellington,” Mr Saunders said.
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