On Friday 7 July, the Far West Coast Aboriginal community and representatives of the South Australian Museum gathered at Koonibba to mark the return to Country of 10 Ancestors.
The ceremony marked the culmination of a three-year effort by the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation (FWCAC), working closely with the South Australian Museum, to collate information and consult with the community on this culturally appropriate reburial ceremony.
The Ancestors were taken away from the West Coast of South Australia over a period of 95 years. Their remains and locks of hair were taken without the consent of Aboriginal people. Some were discovered and handed in to police; others were discovered and reported by members of the public. Some were sent as far as London, and others were held in Perth, the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, and Melbourne.
In 2022, the remains of eight people and three hair samples from two men were sent back to the West Coast of South Australia, and on Friday were laid to rest on Country, where their lives were celebrated. Their memories will never be forgotten.
Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation chair Basil Coleman welcomed the return of the Ancestors.
"Any day when we bring our people back home is a significant day," Mr Coleman said.
"The community has been waiting for a day like this, when they can welcome them back and place them to rest.
"It has been a long process, and at the end of the day we're celebrating their return back to Country. We as the descendants of these Ancestors, our Far West Coast Ancestors, have a cultural obligation, commitment, and responsibility to make sure they come home with dignity, and in a respectful way."
Mr Coleman said it was fitting that the community-led ceremony took place during NAIDOC Week, with its 2023 theme For Our Elders.
"Absolutely, our theme for 2023 is 'For Our Elders' – both our Elders and Ancestors are the ones that hold our culture and our lore, they are the important aspect of healing our people. They have the enormous task of maintaining and passing on traditional knowledge, values, and customary practices, while helping us to find the balance to navigate between the two worlds that we live in," he said.
South Australian Museum Head of Humanities, John Carty, said this milestone was another important step in the Museum's ongoing work to repatriate Aboriginal ancestral remains in its care, and empower communities to return their old people to Country.
"Reburying ancestors during NAIDOC week captures the spirit of the work being done by elders to not only return ancestors to Country for reburial, but to memorialise peoples' lives and share the hard truths of historical attitudes towards Aboriginal people and the ancestors," said Mr Carty.
Mr Coleman also recognised the combined efforts of the South Australian Museum, Department of Premier of Cabinet, Koonibba Aboriginal community, Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation, and EyrePlus in organising the reburial.
"It's the start of healing too. Repatriation is about restoring dignity and making right the wrongs of the past... bringing our Ancestors back to their rightful place."
