Kaurna people have celebrated the return of culturally significant items sent to the Grassi Museum in Germany in 1840 by Lutheran missionaries.
The items, a kathawirri (sword), tantanaku (club or bark peeler), wirnta (spear), and wikatyi (net) were returned in a ceremony at Pirltawardli (Possum Park) - the same location of the original exchange between the German missionaries and the Kaurna people 180 years ago.
In a statement, Mitzi Nam, Chairperson of the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC) and Emma Gollan, Secretary at KYAC said the community was "thrilled the items had found their way home".
"Home to where they were part of the lives of the Kaurna people that created them and where they were such integral parts of our lives," they said.
"These items may no longer be used in the day to day lives of the living Kaurna people, but they are part of our story, our culture and we share a deep and significant connection with them.
Ms Nam and Ms Gollan thanked the German government, the Grassi museum and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) who facilitated the return, and said they hoped for more returns of significant items in the future.
"This achievement, this homecoming, is hopefully only the beginning of those pieces of our culture and heritage coming back to Kaurna land. Coming home.”
The items had been stored and cared for by AIATSIS since they had returned to Australia last year before being returned to Country and community.
Annalena Baerbock, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the event on Kaurna Country and said she felt honoured the attend to witness the return of items.
"All people should have access to their cultural heritage and be able to pass it on to their children and grandchildren," Ms Baerbock.
"This idea is finally guiding us in Germany in our handling of human remains and artefacts in German collections - in a responsible manner and in close coordination with the respective countries and communities of origin.
"This is also an expression of the active engagement of the German government to come to terms with our colonial past."
The return is the first official return from the continent of Europe as part of AIATSIS' Return of Cultural Heritage.
Ms Baerbock said she hopes sends a signal extending beyond Germany.
The items will now be temporarily stored and cared for at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
