Yurlmun: Mokare Mia Boodja

Returning to Mokare's Home Country

Wed 2 Nov 2016 – Sun 9 Apr 2017

10:00am – 4:30pm

Museum of the Great Southern

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About the exhibition

Yurlmun: Mokare Mia Boodja, which means ‘Returning to Mokare’s Home Country’ features 14 rare, significant objects that originated from the Menang Noongar people, the traditional inhabitants of the Albany area. These objects have been carefully stored within the British Museum’s collections since the 1830s. For the first time, they return together to Menang Country for community engagement, response and the sharing of cultural knowledge.

The objects include stone axes, spears, spearthrowers, knives and a postcard. Several of these were collected by the Government Resident, Dr Alexander Collie, in the 1830’s. During his time in Menang Country he developed a special friendship with Menang leader Mokare, who became an interpreter and guide on a number of expeditions and shared knowledge about the customs and beliefs of his people. So close was their bond, that when Collie was dying in 1835, four years after Mokare, he asked to be buried alongside his friend.

The exhibition explores these early encounters between Menang people and the British colonists. It presents a unique opportunity to share knowledge and understanding, in the spirit of friendship and that defined Mokare and Collie.

Project Overview

In 2012, curators from the British Museum visited Albany and spoke with the Menang community and the Western Australian Museum about stories and knowledge around Menang objects in their collection. Three of these objects were selected to be a part of the exhibition Encounters: Revealing Stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Objects from the British Museum at the National Museum of Australia, which featured rare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects from the British Museum’s collections and explored the voices, emotions and stories connected to these objects.

When the Menang community expressed a desire for all Menang objects held by the British Museum to return to Country for a visit, Yurlmun: Mokare Mia Boodja (Returning to Mokare’s Home Country) was conceived.

The extensive engagement between the British Museum and the Menang community – and the loan of these objects back to home Country and community – is unprecedented in Australia and a significant step in reconnecting communities with their cultural heritage.

The lead project partners are the Albany Heritage Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation and the Western Australian Museum as co-curators, and the British Museum. Encouragingly, there is extensive support and enthusiasm across a range of other parties, including the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the National Museum of Australia, the City of Albany, the Great Southern Development Commission, and the National Trust. We would like to express our sincere thanks to our partners and supporters, and their commitment to this significant project.

The productive dialogue that has led to the co-curation of this exhibition will, we hope, lead to future conversations and collaborations between museums and Aboriginal communities across Australia.

This exhibition is presented by the Albany Heritage Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation and the Western Australian Museum in partnership with the British Museum and the National Museum of Australia. It is supported by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

PCOL list

Ministerial Release

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