Enduring controversy: BP sponsorship ignites new row over British Museum's Indigenous exhibition

Submitted by Paul Daley on Tue, 21/07/2015 - 11:19am

Even before it opened, this landmark exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts was criticised over the acquisition of many of its treasures. Now protesters are focusing on the oil company sponsor and claims about its treatment of Indigenous communities

Three months after opening an exhibition of treasured items from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it is clear just how thoroughly London’s British Museum has anticipated the potential anger and emotion of Indigenous Australians.

There’s nothing quite like a controversy to market a cultural experience, of course. And since well before Indigenous Australia: Enduring Civilisation opened in April at the museum – a repository of colonial loot and treasure from a once mighty empire – this exhibition has been mired in it.

There are currently no formal requests for return of objects to Australia.

The barks belong to my Dja Dja Wurrung people. We want the British Museum to give them back. That is unequivocal.