Cultural burial for Aboriginal human remains found on island

Roughly 30 people were involved in the burial, including Aboriginal elders. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) Aboriginal elders and community members have buried human remains found in an unmarked grave on Rottnest Island last month, following forensic testing. The bones were unearthed on the grounds of a church during groundwork for a bus stop expansion. A broader survey identified another 12 possible burial sites, which will be investigated further. Link copiedShareShare articleAboriginal elders have returned bones found on Western Australia's Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, for a culturally appropriate burial after they were taken to the mainland for testing. Warning: Indigenous readers are advised this story contains details some may find distressing. Human remains were uncovered on the island last month during groundwork for the expansion of the now-tourist island's main bus stop. Forensic testing confirmed the human remains belong to an Aboriginal person. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) A forensic pathologist confirmed the bones unearthed on the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church were human, and samples taken for further testing confirmed Indigenous ancestry. Located 19 kilometres off Perth's coast, Rottnest Island was previously used as an Aboriginal prison. Those involved in the procession disembarked with the remains, after the ferry journey to Wadjemup. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) The discovery halted works and prompted a ground-penetrating radar survey of the entire construction footprint, identifying a further twelve possible burial sites, which will be investigated further from Monday. On Saturday, the sample of the human remains wrapped in paperbark was returned to the island and buried in line with cultural practices, led by a group of roughly 30, including Aboriginal elders. On Saturday, the sample of the human remains wrapped in paperbark was returned to the island and buried in line with cultural practices. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) Noongar man James Webb, who played the didgeridoo as part of the ceremony, said he was relieved the bones were noticed during construction. "It united all the state, because people from all over the state were incarcerated in the harsh conditions in this place." Martu man Melvin Farmer travelled 1,800 kilometres from the East Pilbara to Perth to be a part of the ceremony on Saturday. "Could be our relation, our long-lost ancestor," he said. Melvin Farmer wants to know which cultural group the person belonged to. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) "It was very significant for us … to be part of the burial, the traditional way." Mr Farmer said truth-telling about the treatment of Aboriginal people, including on Rottnest Island, was very important. Authorities believe there may be a dozen more unmarked Aboriginal burial sites near where human remains were found earlier this month. "[This is a] big step going towards truth-telling, telling the history of our ways and what happened to us at the hands of the white man," he said. "We have to expose and tell the truth about what has happened. Horrible, terrible, unspoken things happened to our people, brought in from the bush, from their homeland, into an island, isolated from the rest of the world, and treated like animals." Mr Farmer said he wanted further DNA testing to determine where the person had come from. The burial was conducted after a smoking ceremony. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd) "Whether they Noongar, whether they Martu, whether they Yamatji, whether they from different other tribes, make that missing link, join that missing link," he said. Rottnest Island, now well-known as a holiday destination, was used as an Aboriginal prison between 1838 and 1931. State records show more than 3,700 men and boys from across the state were imprisoned there. Hundreds of prisoners are estimated to have died on the island, with many buried in unmarked graves. Today Rottnest Island, off Fremantle, is a popular holiday spot, but few realise the island's dark past as a prison for Indigenous men. This latest discovery of human remains is at a separate location to a further 373 unmarked graves in an area once used as a camping ground and now referred to as the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground. A memorial for that site is expected to be completed later this year, as part of the Wadjemup Project to educate visitors on the island's history. Commercial accommodation at The Quad, a former prison site, was also closed in 2018 and conservation works began to return it to its original appearance as part of the Wadjempup Project.

Cultural burial for Aboriginal human remains found on island

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Cultural burial for Aboriginal human remains found on island

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