After 50 years spent in a Manchester museum, 174 Anindilyakwa cultural items have returned to the Top End.
In a joyous ceremony on Tuesday, held in Umbakumba on Groote Eylandt, the artefacts, which include shells, armbands, baskets and spears, were welcomed home by the children and grandchildren of their makers.
Noelene Lalara, who travelled to Manchester earlier this year, said it was a special day for the Anindilyakwa people.
"We're celebrating, we're happy, we're proud, because the artefacts have come back to where they belong," she said.
It's been a long time since they left. Everyone's proud to come and see them.
The ceremony included speeches, dancing and a smoking ritual, as locals turned out to peruse the artefacts.
They represent a collection made by noted anthropologist Professor Peter Worsley, who bought, traded and was gifted the various items by Anindilyakwa people during his time researching there in the 1950s.
"I saw my dad's stuff come back to Groote Eylandt. I'm really happy to see everything," said Elvis Bara.
"For my children and my grandchildren, I'm proud they can see them."
'I remember playing with these'
The collection of dadikwakwa (shell-dolls), used to represent community members in the play of Anindilyakwa children.
In a special event held in Manchester on September 5 this year, the artefacts were ceremonially handed back to Anindilyakwa people, including Ms Lalara, before being packaged up and making their long journey home.
The precious items include intricately painted errumungkwa (wristbands) of twisted vines, perfectly preserved enungkuwa (spearheads), and a fascinating 'map' of the island carved from hawksbill turtle shell.
But perhaps most important is the repatriation of 70 dadikwakwa-kwa, or shell-dolls.
The shells, used as toys to play with by children, represent the people of the community, as Prof Worsley wrote at the time of his visit 70 years ago.
This carving, made from a hawksbill turtle's shell, was instantly recognised by locals as a map of Groote Eylandt.
Edith Mamarika, the oldest person at Umbakumba, recalled fond memories of playing with the dadikwakwa-kwa.
"I [played] them at my mum’s camp ... I remember playing with these, my grandmother use to come with us to collect them [shells], we use to collect lots," she said.
"I was a girl, six or seven years old … and my grandmother taught me how to play with [them]."
Northern Territory minister Selena Uibo attended Tuesday's ceremony, hailing the to secure the return of the artefacts.
"Lots of people here have done a enormous amount of work to get the belongings back on Country," she told the event.
"It's a couple of years in the making to get them back here, but many, many years away from country overseas ... it's a long way to travel home and they have made it safely."
