New Books Network Decolonising Colonial Collections: Repatriation and Cultural Competence in Museums with guest Marika Duczynski
Mar 26, 2026
Marika Duczynski, a Gamilaraay and Mandandanji writer and Indigenous Heritage Curator, discusses community-led curation and repatriation. She explores cultural competence in colonial institutions. Conversation covers ICIP frameworks, culturally respectful care of collections, rights of response, and opening museum spaces as living, community-guided places.
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Cultural Competence Requires Power Sharing
- Cultural competence combines awareness with action and power-sharing when working with First Nations contexts.
- Marika Duczynski emphasises that competence should reduce the burden on Indigenous staff and enable community leadership rather than constant teaching.
Moongari Celebrated Repatriation And Living Practice
- The Moongari exhibition celebrated the repatriation of the Gweagle Spears and ongoing fishing practices in La Perouse.
- Marika recounts the spears' 250-year stay at Cambridge and how La Perouse community advocacy authored every aspect of the display.
Acknowledge Harm And Relinquish Control
- Acknowledge historical harm and relinquish institutional power to support community self-determination over collections.
- Work with communities to set access, handling and digitisation protocols and honour repatriation requests when made.