Switzerland brings sacred tree home to Indigenous community

2022-12-02_SmokingCeremony.jpg

Ceremonies were organised in Basel and Canberra to mark the handover of the Dhulu. Credit: Omar Lemke/© 2022 Museum der Kulturen Basel

Switzerland has returned a dhulu, a sacred carved tree to the Gamilaraay, an Indigenous community from northeast New South Wales. The dhulu has been in the collection of the Museum der Kulturen Basel for around 80 years. The Swiss Ambassador in Canberra, Nikolas Stürchler, and the Head of the Oceania Department at the Museum der Kulturen Basel, Beatrice Voirol, talk to us about the history of the dhulu, its journey back home and the diplomatic background.


For more stories, interviews, and news from SBS German, .

Stürchler Dhulu.JPG
Der Schweizer Botschafter Nikolas Stürchler bei der Übergabezeremonie in Canberra im Februar. Credit: Iain Johnston

Voirol_Dhulu.JPG
Beatrice Voirol ist die Leiterin der Abteilung Ozeanien im Museum der Kulturen Basel. Für die Rückgabezeremonie war sie im Februar in Canberra. Credit: Iain Johnston

Share