The Warlpiri Project

02/10/2026

The Warlpiri project is proud to share that we have recently repatriated 17 cultural belongings back to the project and community after a 5 year consultation process with the Australian Museum in Sydney.

The repatriation process involved Warlpiri Elders, cultural knowledge holders, researchers and the AM’s repatriation team working together to review collection records, investigate collecting histories and provide community access to cultural material held by the AM.

A series of visits to the AM enabled Warlpiri men and women to examine both Open and Restricted Collections, identify culturally significant belongings and provide cultural guidance on their future care and return.

We’d like to give a huge thank you to the Australian Museum for their work on this project over the past 5 years.

“Repatriation is not just about returning objects; it is about restoring cultural authority, renewing ceremony and ensuring that our knowledge can be passed on to future generations. It is a powerful act of healing," - The Warlpiri Project

Sacred objects returned to Warlpiri (NT) ownership after five-year consultation period

25/09/2026

Congratulations to the Warlpiri project repatriation officer Jamie Hampton who recently completed his Churchill fellowship. Jamie travelled to 6 countries researching repatriation methods that promote improved engagement for Aboriginal communities. Click the link to read more!

13/09/2026

Today marks 19 years since the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted in 2007.

For the Warlpiri Project, its principles remain central to our work, supporting Warlpiri authority over cultural heritage, strengthening community-led decision-making, and working towards the repatriation of our cultural belongings held in collections around the world.

The UNDRIP recognises repatriation as an Indigenous right, but it also reminds us that repatriation is not simply just about returning objects, it is about recognising rights, restoring relationships, and ensuring Warlpiri people determine the future of our cultural heritage.

Last week, the Warlpiri project men’s group were in Melbourne working with various institutions, viewing historical collections, strengthening relationships and working towards the return and reconnection of Warlpiri cultural heritage.

31/08/2026

We’d like to give a massive shout out to this incredible Warlpiri woman! Lynette Nampijinpa Granites, born in the bush in the 1940s Nampijinpa was moved onto Yuendumu mission at a young age, Nampijinpa saw and experienced a rapidly changing world. Since then she has been a world renowned artist and has worked tirelessly to help preserve and transfer important cultural knowledge to the next generations of Warlpiri.

Today Nampijinpa shared some amazing stories about her upbringing, which we are excited to share with everyone very soon!

*Fun fact, in 1951 the Board of anthropological research conducted their first expedition post WW2. This was to Yuendumu community. Lynette was present and remembers interacting with the team on this expedition, this included anthropologists such as Norman Tindale and Charles Mountford.

Ngurrju Nampijinpa and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 🙏🏾

17/08/2026

The Coniston Massacre - 98 year anniversary.

98 years ago during the month of August at Coniston station in Central Australia more then 150 Warlpiri, Anmatyerr and Kayteye men, women and children were killed in what is known as the “Coniston Massacre”.

Today, we remember the men, women and children who were massacred and the families who are still affected by this event.

This massacre the last recorded one in Australia was orchestrated by the Northern Territory police, Constable Murray and others, and was in retaliation to a tribal killing of Fred Brooks, a white dingo trapper who was working around the Coniston area.

Brooks was killed by a Warlpiri warrior named Bullfrog ‘Kamanalda’ Japanangka, because Brooks had kidnapped Bullfrogs wife.

Bullfrog who came from a place called Kumpu an important dreaming site in Warlpiri country responded by spearing Brooks, a penalty within Warlpiri lore for such an offence.

Never caught, Bullfrog used his cultural knowledge to avoid the police, including hiding in a cave.

Bullfrog passed away in Yuendumu community in 1959, before his death he worked tirelessly to help anthropologists and researchers document Warlpiri ceremony and cultural knowledge.

Since the Coniston massacre in 1928, more than 2,500 sacred Warlpiri men’s objects have been removed from our country and placed in museums around the world.

Through the Warlpiri project we continue the fight for justice and truth telling through repatriation on behalf of the Warlpiri nation.

*this post is a reflection of the Warlpiri nation only and not the other tribes associated with this story.

15/07/2026

In 1986, five Warlpiri artists from Yuendumu exchanged two paintings for a government-issued four-wheel drive vehicle, enabling them to travel back to their homelands.

These paintings are now known as Toyota Dreaming.

They were among the earliest acrylic dot paintings produced at Yuendumu, a community that has since become internationally recognised as a major centre of Central Desert art.

The works were created by Paddy Jupurrurla Nelson, Paddy Japaljarri Sims, Larry Jungarrayi Spencer, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, and Towser Jakamarra Walker. These artists were also among those who had previously painted the iconic Yuendumu School Doors, a landmark project in the development of contemporary Warlpiri art.

The exchange was facilitated by Eric Michaels, a researcher with AIATSIS, who was working closely with the Warlpiri and Yuendumu community at the time.

Today the Warlpiri project elders reconnected with the artworks, senior elder Robin Japanangka Granites said -

“The paintings were done by the same artists who painted the Yuendumu Doors in the early 1980’s”. “They painted these master pieces to help educate the broader community about our Jukurrpa, just as they did with the painting of the Yuendumu school doors for their children way back”.

We’d like to thank AIATSIS for their ongoing support and care of these significant paintings.

13/07/2026

The men are back on the road! This week we are in Canberra to kick off a new partnership with the NFSA - National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Over the past 6 years the Warlpiri project has repatriated and received significant donations of archival collections. We will now digitise these collections with the NFSA, this will see the training of young Warlpiri in digitisation and collections management.

Stay tuned for more!

08/07/2026

Happy NAIDOC week - “50 Years of Deadly”!

This NAIDOC week we are celebrating Yuendumu and its annual Sports Weekend - an iconic event begining way back in 1963 (63 years ago).

Giving back to community is important for the Warlpiri project.

This week the Warlpiri project joined Murray Phillips from the UoQ for a visit to Yuendumu where we delivered Yuendumu Sports Weekend archive books to community members and organisations.

This book has pulled together private, museum and university collections which has captured the Yuendumu sports weekend and its events from its inception to present.

We had a great time and it was rewarding to see the joy and excitement people have looking at the photos.

If you are in Yuendumu and want one, come down to the big shop or outback store, they are free!

Ngurrju nyayirni, have a great NAIDOC week!

04/06/2026

"If we hold the power, we hold our destiny and our future for our children."

A great article by co-founder of the Warlpiri project and AIATSIS chair Karl Hampton. Click the link to read more!

The AIATSIS Summit on the Gold Coast has become a meeting place for Indigenous leaders, organisations and communities to discuss truth-telling, culture, native title, language, justice and self-determ...

01/06/2026

As Reconciliation week comes to a close for 2026, we'd like to share this quote made by Senior Warlpiri elder Warren Japanangka Williams.

"We have to start collaborating with our young people. Telling stories through the objects we get back, they got another meaning, and we pass that information onto the next generations"

The Warlpiri project is committed to continuing to help Warlpiri people in reclaiming our cultural heritage material and identity.

Ngurrju nyani

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