[CPProt.net] Bid fails to stop Indigenous artefacts from returning to Britain

[Ellie Bruggeman]

Bid fails to stop Indigenous artefacts from returning to Britain

Indigenous artefacts at the centre of a bitter dispute between 
north-west Victorian Aboriginal groups and the British Museum have been 
returned to Britain.

The bark etchings were on loan to Museum Victoria and were the subject 
of an unsuccessful court battle by the Dja Dja Warrung people to keep 
them in Australia.

Victorian Indigenous Affairs Minister Gavin Jennings says he understands 
elders are upset, but he is offering to broker negotiations for the 
remains to be permanently returned to Australia.

"I'm happy to open up lines of communication immediately if the elders 
ask me to," he said.

"In the meantime, I am maintaining contact with the Government's 
representative in England who has lines of communication open with the 
British Museum."

http://www.abc.net.au