The remains of 108 Aboriginal people, some of whom walked the earth in regional NSW more than 42,000 years ago will finally be reburied, the federal government has ruled.
The NSW Government submitted the proposal to rebury the remains, some of the world's oldest, in the World Heritage-listed National Park to the Federal Government for approval.
Mutthi Mutthi Elder Patricia Winch, from the Willandra Lakes Aboriginal Advisory Group committee, said the three local tribes would now make a decision in the next few months on where and when the private burials would take place.
For Ms Winch, it marks the end of a 50-year journey by her family for the return of the remains.
She remembers her mother writing letters trying to have the remains returned to Country after they had been taken away for research.
"It all started with her when I was just a girl," she said.
"Now I'm one of the elders out here that's finally got to this stage where we have got Mungo Man and Mungo Lady back, and I'm that excited about it."
Mutthi Mutthi Elder Patricia Winch is a member of the Willandra Lakes Region Aboriginal Advisory Group. Source: NITV News
Way before everything
The remains of Mungo Lady were discovered in 1968, followed by the remains of Mungo Man six years later. Theirs are the oldest ritual burials ever recorded by humans.
Ms Winch described the area as "a learning place".
"It's like stepping back in time here," she said.
"We've been out here all this time. It just gives us more evidence, how solid people were on this land, way before pyramids, way before Christianity...way before everything that we know of today."
The community has been strongly divided about whether the remains should be reburied privately and returned to Country, or placed in a Keeping Place where they could still be accessed for research.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley ruled that the cultural intent of the burial process and the heartfelt views of the descendants should be respected. Source: NITV News
A passionately debated issue
Last August, Environment Minister Sussan Ley found the NSW Government's plans to rebury the remains needed to be formally considered, given the significance of the Willandra Lakes Region world heritage area.
She travelled to Mungo National Park in the Willandra Lakes Region of western NSW to announce the decision today.
“I have determined that the remains can be reburied in the Willandra Lakes Region in accordance with the wishes, rights and interests of the local Aboriginal community, represented by the Willandra Lakes Region Aboriginal Advisory Group (AAG)," she said.
“This has been a passionately debated issue that goes to the essence of Australia’s history and that of mankind itself.
"The Australian Government’s careful assessment has now given all parties their chance to put forward those views."
She said that while it was important to document history, it was equally important to respect the cultural intent of the burial process and the "heartfelt views" of the descendants.
“In the last four decades their remains have been removed, analysed, stored, and extensively investigated in the interests of western science," Minister Ley said.
"Even Mungo Man’s return to the district in 2017 has been troubling and disturbing with his and other remains incongruously held in a storeroom at the Mungo Visitor Centre.
“The reburial process will be managed in such a way as to minimise any natural decay. The conditions I have imposed provide for their security and safekeeping during and after reburial.
“Mungo Man and Mungo Lady will soon be home at the end of this long, long road. And their spirits can rest.”
Some Traditional custodians and members of the scientific community had hoped a Keeping Place would be developed, so the remains could be further studied.
Patricia Winch said she hoped the community could now move forward together.
"We can all move on to the next stage out here, working with National Parks and Wildlife and World Heritage, and also the universities ...and the scientists, and doing it in harmony and with respect," Ms Winch said.
Mungo Lake, NSW Source: Deeju Sivadas/SBS Malayalam
