Greens MP David Shoebridge has read out a motion in support of returning the Gweagle shield and acknowledging the true nature of Cook's landing at Botany Bay in the NSW legislative council last week. We sincerely thank Mr. Shoebridge for making this historic motion and for supporting the movement to return the Gweagal shield to its rightful home. read it here ; https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/papers/runningrecord/Documents/2016/Notices%2023%20June%202016.pdf LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NOTICE OF MOTION Mr Shoebridge says- Mr PRESIDENT: I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move: 1. That this House notes that: a. . In 1 770 two members of the Gweagal people stood on the shore of the place now called Botany Bay as a boat containing James Cook and some of his crew approached the shore. b. The Gweagal1nen were holding spears and a shield and they attempted to warn- off the interlopers, an action that was responded to with gunfire. c. One of the men , Cooman, was shot in the leg and he ran for cover, dropping his shield. d. This shield, and a number of spear and other artefacts from their camp were ·taken by Cook and given to the British Museum when he returned there, where they have been ever since. 2. That this House acknowledges that: a. It is a core part of Aboriginal belief that artefacts must be kept on the Country they came from, as they form a part of the ongoing story of that place. b. State laws covering Aboriginal cultural heritage inN ew South Wales recognise this belief c. The Gweagal People and their descendants are the rightful and lawful owners of all artefacts produced on their territory including the shield and spears held in the British Museum. 3. That this House acknowledges the work done by Cooman' s descendant Rodney Kelly to push for the repatriation of these important artefacts. 4. That this House acknowledges that: a. Cook's actions and hostilities toward the Gweagal People upon landing in Australia on April29 1770 were in direct contradiction to the instructions issued to him "to observe the Genius, Temper, Disposition and Number of the Natives, if there be any and endeavour by all proper means to cultivate a Friendship and Alliance with them. " In the 'Secret Instructions to Lieutenant Cook' issued by the admiralty on June 30 1768. 1:\MLC Shoebridge \Parliament \Notices of Motion \ 160622 NOM Gweagal Shield.docx b. The proof that James Cook disobeyed his secret instructions from the Admiralty are contained in the Gweagal oral history of Cook's ftrst landing, Cook's Journal entry of 29th April1770 & Bank's journal entry of the 29th April1770. c. The hostilities perpetrated against the Gweagal on 29th April1770 were the ftrst act ofviolence against the First people of this land in what subsequently became a widespread genocide known as the 'Frontier Wars'. 5. That this House supports the repatriation of these important artefacts to the Gweagal people.