Ancestors laid to rest on Country following return

By KEIRA JENKINS

The spirits of Aboriginal ancestors will finally reunite with Country and rest peacefully as they are reburied in a ceremony. 

The Kaurna ancestors were repatriated from the South Australian Museum, University of Adelaide, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and Edinburgh University.

They will be reburied on Tuesday at Kaurna’s Wangayarta, a dedicated resting place for repatriated ancestors who were taken from Country in South Australia, many of them collected by museums and universities.

Resting place

Located within Adelaide Cemeteries’ Smithfield Memorial Park, it is a resting place for Kaurna ancestors and a place of healing and reflection for the community.

This is the fourth reburial ceremony to be held at Wangayarta.

Some of the Kaurna ancestors were repatriated from the University of Adelaide. (Jacob Shteyman/AAP PHOTOS)

Repatriated Kaurna ancestors from the northern, western and eastern parts of Kaurna Country have been reburied since December 2021.

The latest ceremony, for ancestors from southern parts of Kaurna Country, is the last scheduled reburial at Wangayarta but more could occur if ancestors are located and repatriated from other cultural institutions in future.

“We have now reburied ancestors from the north, south, east and west of Kaurna Yerta – but this will not be the last reburial,” Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation chair Mitzi Nam said.

“There are still ancestors here and overseas who must be brought home and laid to rest.

“We are deeply relieved that our old people’s spirits can now reunite and rest peacefully.”

Wangayarta is a collaboration between Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, South Australian Museum, Adelaide Cemeteries and the South Australian government.

The reburial is a significant moment for the Kaurna community, SA minister Kyam Maher says. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

It has been designed by Kaurna community members who recognised their repatriated ancestors could never be returned to their original burial places, but they could be laid on Country.

South Australian Museum Aboriginal heritage and repatriation manager Anna Russo said the site was an everlasting legacy, created by Kaurna people.

“Today, the South Australian Museum takes responsibility for the hurt caused by our historical attitudes, and we have worked together with Kaurna to change our ways and heal our relationships,” she said.

Significant moment

“Wangayarta embodies this journey and we respect Kaurna’s cultural authority, leadership and generosity in sharing this painful story.”

South Australia’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the reburial was a significant moment for the Kaurna community.

“Wangayarta stands as a powerful testament to Kaurna strength, leadership and enduring connection to their land,” he said.

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