The memorable tour was led by generous Indigenous hosts, who provided us with the opportunity to engage in Indigenous cultural practices beyond the scope of the classroom environment.
In doing so, we learnt about the considerable struggles of First Nations peoples in obtaining autonomy over their land. Specifically, our interactions with Mutthi Mutthi and Barkandji elders enabled us to understand their current frustrations regarding the fact that the remains of many of their early ancestors have been removed from traditional land for the purposes of archaeological studies, a practice which grossly misaligns with Aboriginal burial laws. Despite this, in light of the recent return of Mungo Woman and Mungo Man to Lake Mungo, our Indigenous guides communicated an unwavering sense of hope that more ancestral remains will be returned and re-buried in the near future.
