'Because It's Your Country': Bringing Back the Bones to West Arnhem Land
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PrintEssay discusses the the removal and restitution of Aboriginal remains from the 1948 Smithsonian/National Geographic Society Expedition to Arnhem Land. The essay pays homage to a senior traditional owner from Arnhem Land who became a friend and teacher to Thomas. The essay traces how the traditional owner received back into his country the spirits of kinsmen whose bones were taken during a scientific expedition in 1948, and in this way prepared for his own death. Thomas noted that he used his archival research to open a dialogue with living communities.
Arnhem Land Expedition
Smithsonian History Bibliography
Essay received the Calibre Prize for Outstanding Essay. Research was conducted while a Smithsonian Institution Fellow.
Australian Book Review (Journal)
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
April 2013
Australia
Number of pages: 9; Page numbers: 1-9