A freak find in a Perth op-shop has led to the return of a culturally significant artefact nearly 2000km away in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

Earlier this year, former Rio Tinto employee Chris Olsen saw a carved pearl shell — known as a riji — in a op-shop window and immediately recognised its potential importance.

A riji is a ceremonially engraved pearl shell which has deep cultural and spiritual significance to Aboriginal peoples of the northwest Kimberley region, including the Bardi Jawi People.

Given his time working in the region as a Rio Tinto employee, Mr Olsen said he immediately recognised the item and knew it was of importance.

“When I saw the riji hanging in the window in Perth, I immediately knew it wasn’t decorative, but something special to be returned to Country

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