Today, the British Museum announced that it would refuse to return the Gweagle Shield, Spears and other artefacts seized in 1770 by Captain Cook's party after they shot, Cooman, a Gweagle man on the shores of what is now known as Botany Bay.
In a statement, a spokesperson said, "The Museum doesn't return objects, in general." As an act of ongoing colonialism, today's announcement is highly symbolic.
Rodney Kelly, a descendent of Cooman, is currently in London to demand the repatriation of these items on cultural, historical and spiritual grounds. In the light of today's announcement by the British Museum, Mr. Kelly is calling on all and any high profile support to assist in his undertaking.
The photograph above was taken of Rodney Kelly at the Australian Parliament last month as the Senate passed a motion supporting his mission to the U.K.
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