The remains of more than 60 Aboriginal people have finally been reburied, after floods in 2017 destroyed the Fitzroy Crossing cemetery in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, leaving human bones and body bags exposed.

The remains of many European pioneers had been exhumed and relocated many years ago from the old Fitzroy Crossing cemetery, but the majority of Aboriginal graves, dating from between 1938 and 1960, remained untouched.

Early last year, major flooding along the Fitzroy River left some remains exposed for a number of months.

“Kids found skulls down the river, some of those remains started getting washed down river, there were body bags hanging out from the bank and the elders came to us and wanted something done about it,” Neil Carter from the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre said.

In September, a large-scale community effort led by the centre began to move the remains to higher ground.

A community effort (L to R): Cesar Rodriguez from the WA Department of Planning; Derby Shire President Geoff Haerewa; Walmajarri elder Joe Brown; Bunuba elder Mary Aiken; KALACC hertiage officer, Neil Carter and Darrel Rigby from RPS group. Photograph: Dylan Storer for The Guardian/Dylan Storer

Teams worked tirelessly for three months in 40C heat late last year to exhume the remains before the annual wet season, when the river would rise again. They were kept in a sea container in Fitzroy Crossing for more than six months before finally being laid to rest.

Sixteen people have been identified using historical records, and some have been returned to their country to be buried with family. DNA testing will be used to try and identify the rest, but some remains have already been washed downstream.

“It saddens me that all of our Bunuba people were all washed away by the flood,” said an emotional Bunuba traditional owner, Mary Aiken.

“These people came from stations in the Fitzroy Valley. These are the people who worked on those station in the early days, who worked for just flour, sugar and tea,” Aiken said.

Elders said the project is important for reconciliation and truth-telling about the history and impact of colonisation in the Kimberley.

“In the olden days, the old people ended up in Fitzroy police station. The old people had no English and [station] manager could come and take any of them, they find strong man and take him. Many Kartiya [white person] come from everywhere,” Aiken said.

“People didn’t know what this bullock or sheep is, but they liked to eat the meat. To the Kartiya they were valuable and they didn’t like that so they locked them up,” Walmajarri elder Joe Brown said.

A traditional smoking ceremony was conducted by women at the gate to the new cemetery and community members each placed a handful of dirt on each of the small coffins built by the Fitzroy Men’s Shed.

Students from Yiramalay school then spread local wildflowers over the remains before they were covered and reburied beneath the red pindan dirt.

Students from Yiramalay School and community members sprinkle pindan dirt over the remains. Photograph: Dylan Storer for The Guardian/Dylan Storer

The project will continue, giving families the option to construct headstones or relocate their relatives back to their traditional country. But for now there is a sense of relief and healing for many in the Fitzroy Valley community.

“My father was one of them [reburied today], so I’m at peace now that he’s at rest on higher ground, and one day we’ll move him back home,” Brenda Shaw said.

“It’s good to see everyone here supporting us,” Aiken said. “Now we can rest them here on higher ground.”