Queensland Museum’s Repatriation Team have recently played a key role in reuniting a cultural artefact with the Traditional Owners of the land to which the object belongs.
The traditional shield was discovered at a Cairns Regional Council buy back shop in 2023 by an astute member of the public, Ms Bernadine Price, who recognised the shield was potentially painted with ochre and could be quite old.
Image: Jacquie Price
Bernadine purchased the shield in fear it may go to landfill. It wasn’t until 2025, that again by chance, Bernadine was driving, tuned in to Bumma Bippera Media (BBM 98.7FM). National Talkblack’s host Trevor Tim was at Queensland Museum Kurilpa, interviewing Daniel Dow – Project Officer First Nations, Repatriation and Bernadine reached out to the museum about the shield, sending through some photos, which allowed the team to make some assessments.
Then in 2026, in collaboration with partners, UQ and QUT, Queensland Museum held consultation with Yindiji Elder statesman, Uncle Peter ‘Bumi (Thunder)’ Hyde.
Image: Jacquie Price
Uncle Bumi, a bon-a-fide expert in FNQ shields and cultural items, positively identified the object as a traditional Gimuy-walubarra Yidi rainforest shield, both in material design and artwork.
“I was so excited to meet Uncle Bumi and thrilled to handover the shield to him. We were both very emotional. It was such an honour to be able to return the shield to its rightful Traditional Owners,” Ms Price said.
Uncle Bumi specifically chose the corner of Shields and Abbott Streets to meet for the handover. It is where his father would meet others after they had been fishing on the esplanade. It is also where a public art installation (Shields Street Heart Project) featuring traditional Aboriginal shields has been put in place. You can see one of the shields in the background of the photos.
“It felt really good (to have the shield)… I just kept thinking of my father and mother here. I want to thank Bernadine for saving the shield, and thanks to everyone at Queensland Museum for this…and for looking after all those other things of ours down there,” Uncle Bumi said.
Queensland Museum’s current role is one of continuing custodial care and return of First Nations Ancestors and cultural materials.
The Museum also accepts surrendered cultural items from private collections and cares for them until they can be returned to Community and Country.
Queensland Museum acknowledges its history of inappropriate collecting practices and is committed to reconciliation and reframing our relationship with First Nations peoples to forge a path towards healing and justice.
Leave a Reply