Indigenous objects, some not seen in public for more than 200 years, will go on display at the National Museum of Australia later this year.
The exhibition includes around 150 early Aboriginal art and objects from some of the first encounters between British settlers and Aboriginal people.
The pieces are being returned from the British Museum as part of a deal which will see three exhibitions come to Canberra over the next couple years.
The first exhibition, Encounters, opens in November and will feature, among other objects, two spears and a shield from the first confrontation between Lieutenant James Cook and Aboriginal Australians.
Prior to arranging the deal with the British Museum, National Museum of Australia curators and its Indigenous Advisory Committee consulted with Aboriginal communities on what materials would be displayed, and how they would be displayed.
Senior curator at the National Museum, Ian Coates, spoke with Will Mumford about Encounters and some of the works it will feature.
(Click on audio tab to listen to this item)
Share
