Swiss museum returns dhulu to Australian aboriginal community

The Basel Museum of Cultures officially has returned a dhulu, a carved tree, to the Gamilaraay aboriginal community in Australia. The centuries-old tree, which entered the museum's collections in 1940, will be flown to Australia at the end of the week. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "The return of the dhulu is very important to us. It represents more than the return of an artifact. It is a reconnection with our ancestral heritage and the teachings that have sustained our community for thousands of generations," said representatives of the Gamilaraay community on Thursday. Australian Ambassador to Switzerland Elisabeth Day attended the restitution ceremony at the Museum of Cultures. Conradin Cramer, president of the cantonal government, was also present. On January 18, the Basel City government announced the return of the dhulu, or thulu, to its community of origin. The decision was approved by the museum commission and the University of Basel. The dhulu ...