The remains of 14 Yolngu individuals, held by Museum Victoria since the 1930s, have been formally returned to their traditional lands in Arnhem Land through a series of ceremonies marked by song and ritual. The repatriation, which took place earlier this week at Gangan and Baniyala, was led by acclaimed artist and Madarrpa clan caretaker Dr. Djambawa Marawili alongside leaders from multiple Yolngu clans including Dha wangu, Madarrpa, Djapu, Dhudi-Djapu, Manggalili, and Marrakulu.
Dr. Marawili described the event as a significant moment for the Yolngu people, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual importance of returning ancestors to their own country. He highlighted how the remains carry traditional patterns and designs unique to the land, reinforcing the deep connection between Yolngu identity, culture, and territory. "We need to show our young ones that some of our ancestral heritage was taken away and stored on other people’s country," he said, noting the continuation of cultural practices such as painting, ceremonies, and songlines that link present generations with those being repatriated.
The repatriation process began in 2018 when the University of Melbourne transferred custody of the remains—referred to collectively as Ancestors—to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The university, working in collaboration with Dr. Marawili, clan leaders, and cultural authorities, coordinated the return after decades of the remains being held in institutional care.
Barry Judd, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (Indigenous), attended the ceremonies and expressed the institution’s recognition of past wrongs and commitment to healing and ethical responsibilities. "On behalf of the University of Melbourne, we are deeply honoured to be here," he said.
Professor Marcia Langton, associate provost at the University of Melbourne, praised Dr. Marawili for his steadfast leadership in advocating for repatriation. "The importance of returning Ancestors and sacred objects to clans and homelands cannot be underestimated," she stated. Langton also underscored the urgency of repatriation efforts amid the advancing age of senior cultural knowledge holders who maintain governance under traditional clan structures in Arnhem Land and other regions.
The remains are part of the Donald Thomson Collection at the University of Melbourne, which contains materials reflecting the social and cultural life of Aboriginal peoples from Cape York, Arnhem Land, and the Central and Gibson Deserts, as well as objects from Papua, the Solomon Islands, and West Papua. Donald Thomson, who died in 1970, collected the items with a noted respect for Indigenous cultures.
In a written statement, the university acknowledged Thomson’s contributions and highlighted the collection’s profound significance to Indigenous communities and researchers studying human diversity both nationally and internationally. The repatriation marks a key step in restoring cultural heritage and strengthening connections between Aboriginal peoples and their ancestral lands.