In a milestone for international repatriation, the British Museum has formally returned eight wooden spears to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community in Sydney. These spears were taken by Captain James Cook and his crew in 1770 during their first encounter with the Gweagal people at Botany Bay. For over 250 years, they remained in the UK, serving as symbols of the earliest colonial contact.
The return follows decades of campaigning by indigenous elders and a landmark legal agreement that recognizes the community's ownership. The repatriation is seen as a profound act of reconciliation, as the spears are not merely artifacts but sacred symbols of resistance and survival. They will now be housed in a community-led museum dedicated to the history of the Gweagal people.