Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation traditional custodians Jungala Ellis and Eric Edwards joined Major Road Projects Victoria as part of the end of major works to repatriate culturally significant Aboriginal artefacts.
Representatives from Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV), Tardis Archaeology and McConnell Dowell participated in a smoking ceremony before reburying the artefacts within the project area of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade.
These cultural artefacts were unearthed and salvaged through the delivery of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade project.
An MRPV spokesperson said Aboriginal cultural heritage in the form of stone tools provided a tangible connection between Traditional Owners and their ancestral connection to the Country.
“MRPV always tries to avoid disturbing Aboriginal cultural heritage but where this is unavoidable, it is important that the artefacts are treated respectfully and, if the Traditional Owners request, returned to the ground as close to where they were found as possible, to continue their on-going connection to Country,” they said.
“MRPV and contractor McConnell Dowell have worked with representatives of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to ensure the Aboriginal heritage is managed respectfully during the delivery of the project.”
