7 Warlpiri Artifacts
Description:
Case Status: Object(s) relinquished
Year Claim Initiated: 2021
Year Claim Resolved: 2022
Means of Resolution: Inquiry/Demand
Complainant Name: University of Virginia
Complainant Nation: Australian Aboriginal Territories
Complainant Nation Economy: Developed
Complainant Type: Private: Individual
Respondent Name: Yuendumu community
Respondent Nation: United States
Respondent Nation Economy: Developed
Respondent Type: Public: Institution
Reference Links:
- https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/19/final-resting-place-sacred-indigenous-objects-returned-to-australia-from-us-university
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-21/sacred-indigenous-objects-returned-to-australia/101169738
- https://aiatsis.gov.au/about/what-we-do/return-cultural-heritage/roch-returns/warlpiri-return
Files:
Editor's Notes:
Clarification Notes
. Seven restricted objects with significance for Warlpiri men were returned to the Yuendumu community in Central Australia.
. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) partnered with the University of Virginia to transfer the artifacts to original community in Australia (Yuendumu community).
. The artifact types were not specified, only that they had significance for Warlpiri men.
Edited by Keli Fisher
Editor Notes to Professor Cronin:
. There were no images of the artifacts across the articles I found, and even when I tried searching "Yuendumu/Warlpiri artifacts" for a replica/reference, only recent art came up. I'm wondering if they weren't photographed since even the AIATSIS marks them as "restricted items." Alternatively, most images related to this news were group photos, but none of them included the artifacts. Though, notably, the "Yuendumu Doors/Gates (from 1984)" most commonly came up when I searched "Yuendumu/Warlpiri art/artifacts/ancient artifacts." Would you like me to use recent art, use a group photo, or just leave the image blank?