James Cook University has begun a long-term project to repatriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage materials held in the university's Material Culture Collection.

The first handover saw artefacts returned by the north Queensland university to representatives from two Aboriginal communities on Friday.

The university returned a boomerang and a stone axe-head to representatives of the Djabugay community, along with six photographic slides that show Dan Coleman making a rainforest sword and a basket at Kuranda.

Representatives of the Djungan community accepted a group of bark paintings which were donated to the Material Culture Collection in 1977 by the Australian Heritage Gallery.

Djungan artist Jimmy Archer with his daughters Lesley (left) and Connie, and two paintings he created as a young man in the 1970s.

Two of the paintings were by Jimmy Junkinburri Archer, who welcomed their return with his daughters, Lesley and Connie Archer.

The Archer family were able to identify the remaining paintings as the work of their uncle and brother George Narabullgun Archer.

Professor Rosita Henry said it was a pleasure to return the items, knowing they will be welcomed and valued by the communities in which they were created.

Ms Henry said the university held 61 secret or sacred objects associated with men's business, and a collection of 24 sensitive photographs of women, which are judged to be women's business.

"These items are stored in a secure facility, where access is strictly controlled. In line with Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003, JCU is working on returning these to the appropriate communities or custodians where possible," she said.

JCU vice chancellor Simon Biggs said the materials were used as a teaching resource from 1975 until 2003.

"Many items were purchased by the University

Djabugay man Dennis Hunter holds a boomerang made by his Grandfather, with whom he shares the traditional name of Badadjaygul.

or were donated," he said.

"There are also a few items that are on loan to JCU, having been left with us for safekeeping by family members."

In 2004 the university transferred more than 2,000 artefacts from the collection to the Queensland Museum.

Mr Biggs said remaining artefacts should be returned to the people whose heritage they are.

"Thanks to many years of work by Professor of Anthropology, Rosita Henry, and Trish Barnard - an experienced Indigenous collections manager and curator - items have been identified and catalogued, and contact is being made with relevant people and communities," he said.

No human remains are included in the university's Material Culture Collection.