Sydney - The University of Cambridge has
refused a request by an Australian man to return important
Aboriginal artifacts taken by British explorer Captain James
Cook nearly 250 years ago.
Rodney Kelly is seeking the return of four spears from the
university’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology on behalf of
the Gweagal people, who traditionally inhabited southern parts
of Sydney, Australia's largest city.
According the to the university, Cook took the spears
following a violent first encounter between Aborigines and
Europeans on the shores of Botany Bay in Sydney in 1770. He also
took a shield, which is currently held by the British Museum and
for which Kelly has also sought repatriation.
The artifacts are recognised as a significant symbol of
first contact between the British and indigenous Australians and
of Aboriginal resistance to colonisation. However, the
University of Cambridge has rejected a request for their return
lodged by Kelly.
"Removing parts of the Cook-Sandwich collection, which is of
great historical, scientific and educational importance
nationally and internationally, would cause considerable harm by
depriving the collection of its integrity," a spokeswoman said
in a statement to Reuters on Saturday.
The university said the request contained no clear proposal
for housing and conserving the spears if they were to be
returned, and added it was important that any request for change
be made with "accredited representatives of the Gweagal people".
Kelly, who submitted a formal request for the repatriation
of the spears in November last year, claims to be a direct
descendant of the Gweagal warrior Cooman, from whom he claims
the spears and shield were taken.
However, a report prepared by the University of Cambridge
has questioned Kelly’s ability to prove his descent - something
disputed by the Sydney man.
"It makes me angry they are trying these tactics to
discredit me and my history," Kelly told Reuters in an
interview.
Cook's landing in Botany Bay on April 29, 1770 marked the
first point of contact between the British and Aborigines and
preceded the arrival of the first waves of colonists to
Australia eight years later.
Two Aboriginal men holding spears tried to resist Cook’s
party landing and one was injured by British musket fire, the
university says. The Gweagal then retreated and Cook and his
crew entered their camp and took the spears and a shield.
According to Kelly, Cooman was the injured man in the
historical account, a claim the university says is not
well-supported.
Both the Australian Senate and state parliament of New South
Wales voted last year to support the repatriation of the
artifacts from the British Museum and the Cambridge Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology.
Kelly said he would continue to fight for the artifacts'
return.
"I want to do everything I can to bring those artifacts home
for my people and every indigenous and non indigenous person in
Australia," he said.