On July 21, members of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Jupagalk peoples made an emergency declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Act that prevented the return of Aboriginal artifacts on loan to Australia from the British Museum. The retention of these 19th-century bark etchings, which have been on display at the Melbourne Museum as part of an exhibition that closed at the end of June, is applauded by those who consider the artifacts to be the rightful property of the Aborigines, while others fear this incident will hinder future international exhibitions.
