Council faces criticism over Indigenous artefact repatriation process

The not-for-profit, which works to preserve the history of the local region's Indigenous culture, feels like they've been left out in the cold according to the Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation's Nathan Frank.

"We definitely have had some frustrating experiences," Mr Frank said.

"We've been trying to work with council for nearly the last decade on a lot of different issues, they've blatantly ignored some of our requests for artefacts."

Mr Frank said concerns the group had raised over how the council is approaching the repatriation of some artefacts had fallen on deaf ears, an issue that's exacerbated conflicts over the corporation's own interest in maintaining their culture.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

"We purchased a property about ten years ago at this point and our plans have always included a cultural centre," Mr Frank said.

Coral Peckham, an elder who Mr Franks says helped identify many of the trees and carvings that are set to be repatriated from the Australian Museum, is among the elders that have been left frustrated by the process.

Mr Franks says that council was 'very aware' that elders from the cultural group wanted to retain possession of the artefacts, many of which hold special significance.

"These aren't simply trees that have been carved for tools or other things like that, some of them are very special and have very unique designs," Mr Frank said.

"Some are even burial trees, which hold a very special importance to us."

Mr Frank was grateful to hear that the artefacts will be returning to their traditional home, but doesn't believe they should end up in council's custody.

"We want the trees to come home, but they should go back to the community," Mr Frank said.

"We want people to connect with those trees and their culture, but in a controlled way, where possible, we'd even like to share that with the broader community."

When asked about what Dubbo Regional Council's plans were for the artefacts, the Daily Liberal was directed to a prior press release, which outlines a plan devised by the Wiradjuri Technical Advisory Panel to have the trees reside in a separate, secluded building beside the Wiradjuri Tourism Centre.

In the release, council's tourism product development manager Nicola Chandler was quoted as saying that consulting with community and elders was 'integral'.

"The Wiradjuri Technical Advisory Panel agreed it was important that the carved trees be brought back home to Wiradjuri country, and have the ancestral spirits rest in a specifically designed building which will be built alongside, but remain separate to the new Wiradjuri Tourism Centre," she said.

"It is important for the community to bring their ancestors home and have a place for ancestors to rest, reconnect with country and reconnect to community. Some of them have been away for over 130 years."

Council has been working alongside traditional owners, the Aboriginal Working Party, the advisory panel and community to bring the sacred carved trees home, along with other artefacts which have been stored at the Australian Museum for a number of decades.