Switzerland brings sacred tree home to Indigenous community

Switzerland has returned a dhulu, a sacred carved tree to the Gamilaraay, an Indigenous community from northeast New South Wales. The dhulu has been in the collection of the Museum der Kulturen Basel for around 80 years. The Swiss Ambassador in Canberra, Nikolas Stürchler, and the Head of the Oceania Department at the Museum der Kulturen Basel, Beatrice Voirol, talk to us about the history of the dhulu, its journey back home and the diplomatic background.

Ceremonies were organised in Basel and Canberra to mark the handover of the Dhulu. Credit: Omar Lemke/© 2022 Museum der Kulturen Basel

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Der Schweizer Botschafter Nikolas Stürchler bei der Übergabezeremonie in Canberra im Februar. Credit: Iain Johnston

Beatrice Voirol ist die Leiterin der Abteilung Ozeanien im Museum der Kulturen Basel. Für die Rückgabezeremonie war sie im Februar in Canberra. Credit: Iain Johnston