To Arabana Aboriginal Corporation Common Law Holder
RE: Potential repatriation of Arabana human remains
The South Australian Museum has eight partial sets of human remains recovered from Arabana wadlhu. Research conducted on the remains by Arabana community members suggests they are Arabana people. Five of the partial sets of remains were found within 10km of Oodnadatta, one at Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, one near Marree, and one on Muloorina Station. The bones were uncovered between 1900 and 1950 by
non-Arabana people who were working on country, for example during road and railway construction. Most of the sets of remains are likely precolonial in age. Most of the sets of remains consist of partial bone fragments only.
Since 2023, the museum has been working with the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation, the AAC Board, and a repatriation working group made up of Arabana nharla to discuss returning the skeletons to Arabana wadlhu for reburial. The Corporation, Board, and working group is seeking community input into repatriation and reburial of the remains. On the following page, you will find a series of questions relating to the project for your consideration. If you want to provide input into the project,
please fill out the questionnaire and place it in the box provided today or return the form to the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation office.
If you would like additional information and input into the project, contact AAC Project Officer Neil Brougham, n.brougham@arabana.com.au or 0436 305 890. Neil can record your input and provide the ‘South Australian Museum Indigenous Repatriation Program Stage One Archive Report’ that explains where the remains were found and describes
their condition.
Regards,
Bronwyn Dodd
AAC Board Chairperson
