Annastacia Palaszczuk plans to personally travel to London with First Nations people to retrieve ancient Indigenous artifacts stashed in British museums
- Annastacia Palaszczuk marked plans to go to London
- She will travel to the city to retrieve native artifacts
- It comes when the government passed Path to Treaty legislation
Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced plans to personally travel to London with First Nations people to retrieve indigenous artifacts stashed in Britain.
The Premier of Queensland expressed her intention to go abroad to retrieve the items when she announced a First Nations cultural center for Far North Queensland in Cairns on Thursday.
There will also be a cultural center in Brisbane.
The cultural centers will showcase the rich history, unique stories and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Ms Palaszczuk explained that there is currently a ‘treasure of artifacts held in the basement of the British Museum’.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has announced plans to travel to London with First Nations people to collect indigenous artifacts
Obviously there are also treaties and requirements for treaties from both the Australian and British colonial offices in the British Library.
“These priceless artifacts will be more on display here at our cultural center where they belong,” she said.
“I’m happy to go to London to get these artifacts back from our First Nations people.”
It comes after the state government passed Path to Treaty legislation on Wednesday night.
The Liberal National Opposition and Greens gave broad support to the Road to Treaty bill during a debate at a rare regional parliamentary session in the far north Queensland city of Cairns.
The five-member Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and a First Nations Treaty Institute to shape future negotiation processes are at the heart of the legislation passed.
Ms Palaszczuk explained there was a ‘treasure of artifacts kept in the basement of the British Museum’
The inquiry into truth will examine the history and ongoing effect of colonization on the indigenous people in the state.
A group of five board members will tour the state documenting the painful experiences of First Nations people under investigation.
The study is likely to be conducted over a period of three years, with a possible extension.
A First Nations Treaty Institute will also be established to help Indigenous peoples prepare for treaty negotiations when they take place.
One of the recommendations of a parliamentary committee was to develop clear information about the Road to Treaty process and its relationship with the vote.