The Aboriginal Anindilyakwa community of Australia’s Northern Territory is celebrating the return of 174 cultural heritage items, as part of a landmark repatriation project organised with Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester.
A handover ceremony took place on 5 September at Manchester Museum, where the cultural heritage material was formally returned to representatives of the Anindilyakwa community from Groote Eylandt – an island located approximately 50km from the north coast of mainland Australia.
One of the highlights of the collection is a group of dolls made from shells – Dadikwakwa-kwa in the Anindilyakwa language – which were traditionally painted by parents for their daughters using intricate ochre designs. The items have helped to strengthen cross-generational bonds within the community, with descendent generations now using the items to connect with their heritage, sparking a contemporary art project inspired by the traditional practices.
