The first of these two letters was written by Rodney Kelly, a descendent of Cooman, the original owner of the Gweagle Shield. Rodney’s letter was sent to the British Museum, requesting that the shield, which was the centerpiece of the recent Encounters exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, be returned to Gweagle Country. The second letter is the British Museum’s reply: an offer for another loan of the shield. The Gweagle Shield is a bark shield, with a round hole near its centre. James Cook obtained the shield when he landed at Botany Bay for the first time in 1770 and shot at two men of the Gweagle Clan who were on the shore of the bay, one of who dropped the shield. Neil MacGregor, who curated the A History of the World in 100 Objects exhibition at the British Museum, claims that the hole in the centre of the shield ‘was probably made by a wooden spear.’[1] However, many believe it to be the legacy of a musket ball fired by either Cook or his men. The shield is of immense significance because of this hole and its implications for the issue of sovereignty, and because it marks the first of so many violent events.
Gweagle Artefacts – Claim of Right
28th March 2015
Statement of Claim for the repatriation and return of all Gweagle artefacts to the living descendants of the Gweagle Clan of the Dharawal Tribe.
We, the living bloodline descendants of the Gweagle Clan of the Dharawal Tribe, are at law the rightful owners of all artefacts produced or originating on Gweagle territory or in possession of our ancestors. We do mandate that it is our Will that all artefacts and human remains belonging to, and found on the territories of the Gweagle Clan are returned into the possession of the Gweagle People forthwith.
The lands of the Dharawal Tribe encompass the areas now known as ‘Botany Bay (Kurnell Peninsula) and the southern geographic areas of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Our Dhurawal tribal territory spans the areas between the Cooks and Georges River, south to the Port Hacking estuary and westwards towards Liverpool.
According to our law it is culturally and spiritually imperative that artefacts that come from our country, stay on our country, this is according to the ancient Dharawal law which has existed in our land from time immemorial and in fulfilment of our Gweagal ancestors customs and law.
It is a matter of fact the Shield held in the collection of the British Museum and currently on display at the National Museum of Australia as part of the ‘Encounters’ Exhibition was in fact stolen from our ancestor, the warrior Cooman of the Tribe Gweagal upon first encounter with James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour in 1770 at Kamay Bay which is the Original name for land now known as ‘Botany Bay.
We, the living descendants of the Gweagle warrior Cooman are in possession of the birth and baptism records which verify that we are in fact the fifth and sixth times great grandchildren of our ancestor Cooman to whom this shield did belong. Therefore we are the rightful owners and wish for the shield to come back into our possession. This item is of immense significance and importance to our cultural heritage.
In our culture there was no theft, therefore objects were commonly left on the ground to be picked up later, therefore the shield and spears taken by the crew of the Endeavour were not abandoned by the owners and were taken without permission to England.
It is our Will and the Will of the Clan that all Gweagle artefacts are kept on Gweagal Country and do not leave the shores of Australia under any circumstances whatsoever without express permission from the Elders of the Gweagle tribe.
All Artefacts currently held by the British Museum and National Museum of Australia are to be returned within 90 days of this letter.
These artefacts prove that Australia was invaded without permission of the Orignal People of this land.
Signed on the twenty sixth day of March in the year 2016
Leah Kelly & Faith Aldridge
Fifth Times Great Granddaughters of the Warrior Cooman of the Tribe Gweagle
Bejam Kunmanara Jarlo Noonucal Kabool
Son of Oodgeroo of the Tribe Noonucal Custodian of the land Minjerribah.
