Deakin University is partnering with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), Australia’s leading First Nations collecting, publishing and research institute, to identify the provenance of thousands of sacred objects held in overseas museum collections. The project is being led by Dr Jason Gibson, DECRA Research Fellow at ADI, to undertake a three-year research project to engage with senior Aboriginal men across central Australia and will generate a new Indigenous Framework for the return of poorly provenanced sacred objects.

This framework will support the AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program with their ongoing negotiations with overseas collecting institutions and private collectors by demonstrating an evidence-based, culturally appropriate and community co-designed methodology for the return of sacred objects that lack definitive provenance. The project will undertake research to confirm the number of central Australian sacred objects held in overseas collections and work with local Aboriginal cultural experts on how best to deal with poorly provenanced objects for future generations and discuss options for repatriation to Australia.