While some people have valued the opportunity to reconnect with the long lost objects of their ancestors, others are heartbroken that their sacred cultural property will soon be returned to the British Museum

Henrietta Fourmile Marrie stands at the podium, a diminutive figure at a lower corner of the cavernous stage.

The white invaders fashioned a copper breastplate for her great-grandfather, Ye-I-Nie, which, in acknowledgment of his reputation as a peacemaker, named him “King of Cairns”. And even though he long ago passed away, there he is today, Ye-I-Nie, wearing his breastplate and head dress, his skin marked with the tribal ligatures of Yidindji, as he looks out across his great-granddaughter’s left shoulder and into the eyes of a transfixed audience.

In two weeks time that spirit will be gone again. And I feel that when I walk past him – it is so heavy

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What people want is ... for the museum to bring itself to them

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There is not one generic response that fits the needs of all and even within communities opinions may differ

The analogy of rape as it is applied to what has happened to our cultural heritage is not far-fetched

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