Police Collecting of Ancestral Remains and Cultural Property, 1825-1930

Abstract

Police Collecting investigates the history, legality and contemporary implications of police collecting Indigenous Ancestral Remains and cultural property between 1825 and 1930, including the role of museums and governments in directing this activity. Focusing on collections held in Australia and overseas, it examines relevant law, jurisprudence concerning police acquisition of objects, and assumptions about Indigenous ownership and possession. This talk will present the project’s findings to date for a public audience. Show more