Cultural heritage

November 2024—United States of America

On 7 November, the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles hosted a joint repatriation ceremony to formally recognise the return of fourteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains (ancestors) to their Traditional Custodians and representatives from the Australian Government.

Representatives from four Californian institutions participated in the handover ceremony, which formally acknowledged the return of ancestors, so they can be returned back to Australia, and their Traditional Custodians. The returning institutions included Fowler Museum, the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the Natural History Museum Los Angeles County, and the Oakland Museum of California.

Uncle Major (Moogy) Sumner AM, representing the Ngarrindjeri Community of South Australia, travelled to California to receive his communities' ancestor and to accompany the Ngarrindjeri Old Person home. Uncle Moogy has been has been an active advocate for repatriation since the early 1990s and has been involved in the return of ancestors held in collecting institutions in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Uncle Moogy commented that "bringing ancestors home is healing for the whole community and land and the repatriation of ancestors is an important part of reconciliation." He reflected that "our ancestor comes from Ngarrindjeri Country and they will be returned to their home."

The stewardship of one Wamba Wemba ancestor from Victoria was transferred to the Australian Government at the request of community, while they make the appropriate return to Country arrangements.

The Australian Government received stewardship of twelve ancestors with regional, state and Australian provenance so they can be returned to Australia and cared for closer to home.

The Australian Government is continuing to progress discussions with other institutions in the United States to facilitate future returns.

• Media release—Fourteen First Nations Ancestors returned home from California

August 2024—New Zealand

On 28 August, the Auckland War Memorial Museum and University of Auckland come together as part of a joint ceremony to repatriate six First Nations ancestors held in their care.

Dambeemangaddee community representatives of Collier Bay, Western Australia travelled to Auckland to undertake cultural ceremony, receive their ancestor and accompany them home. Dambeemangaddee community representative Gary Umbagai said that "We are pleased to see our ancestor being returned and we know that the spirit of that person will be happy to be home, after such a long time away in a strange place. We thank everyone who has been involved in supporting the return of our ancestor as this is part of the healing process."  In September, the Dambeemangaddee community laid their ancestor to rest.

One ancestor was returned under stewardship of the Australian Government at the request of the Wamba Wemba community, Barham, New South Wales. The Wamba Wemba community are progressing arrangements to support the return to Country for their ancestor. The Government also received stewardship of four ancestors with state and Australian provenance so they can be returned and cared for closer to home.

Australia and New Zealand share a commitment to First Nations justice and repatriation. Our Governments are both focused on upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples to seek the repatriation of their ancestors and access to cultural heritage material consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007. Discussions are progressing to support further repatriations.

• Media release—Six First Nations ancestors returning home

November 2023—United States of America

On 30 November, representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC hosted a ceremony to return 14 First Nations ancestors to their Traditional Custodians and representatives from the Australian Government. First Nations community representatives from South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia travelled to Washington to undertake cultural ceremony to receive their ancestors and accompany them home.

John Clarke, representing Eastern Maar community in Victoria received five ancestors. He said 'the repatriation/rematriation of our Ancestors - robbed of their bones from their graves - is an important correction to what is a great injustice. This return brings a sense of collective healing to all who reside on Eastern Maar Territory. It is an obligation upon us as Maar to ensure the return of our Ancestors'.

While Uncle Major Sumner, representing the Ngarrindjeri community of South Australia received his ancestor and said that 'bringing our ancestor home is healing for the community and the land—it brings calm where there has been unrest and uncertainty. Our ancestor comes from Ngarrindjeri Country and they should be returned to their home.' The Ngarrindjeri ancestor has been returned to Country.

Uncle Neil McKenzie and Luis Matsumoto, representing the Yawuru community of Western Australia received their ancestor. 'The return of the Yawuru ancestor acknowledges the truth of Yawuru history and the treatment of our ancestors who were removed from Country without consent. Repatriation is part of our community truth telling and it allows the ancestors to return home to Yawuru Country to finally be at rest' said Uncle Neil McKenzie. This sentiment was shared by Luis Matsumoto who also reflected that 'repatriation is an important process because it allows for cultural knowledge to passed down to the younger generations. I'm proud to be doing this for my community, it is an important responsibility'.

The stewardship of two Wamba Wemba, Victorian ancestors were transferred to the Australian Government at the request of community. Traditional Custodians will welcome home the ancestors on their arrival in Australia. The Australian Government also received stewardship of five ancestors with regional and state provenance so they can be returned and cared for closer to home.

The Australian Government is continuing to progress discussions with other institutions in the United States to facilitate future returns.

• Media release—Repatriation of First Nations ancestors from The Smithsonian

October 2023—Austria

Six ancestors were returned during a handover ceremony hosted by the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Vienna. Three ancestors were returned to their Traditional Custodians, with representatives from the Dharawal Nation, the Wotjobaluk Nation and the Ngiyampaa Nation travelling to Vienna to undertake cultural protocols and receive their ancestors. The Australian Government received stewardship of a Yuin Nation ancestor at the request of the community and also received stewardship of two ancestors with state provenance so they can be returned and cared for closer to home.

David Johnson, Dharawal Nation commented that 'repatriation and the reburial of our old people on Country is a priority for our community so the ancestors can rest according to our lore and customs'. This sentiment was echoed by Janine Ohlsen, Ngiyampaa Nation, who said that 'the repatriation of ancestors strengthens our communities by coming together and practicing our cultural traditions and sharing traditional knowledge'.

Alison Basa, Ngiyampaa Nation acknowledged importance of being able to participate in these ceremonies and that 'in taking custodianship of Nymagee Man, we are helping him on his way back home, and contributing to the health and wellbeing of our Ngiyampaa People, and our community'. The significance of being able to return the ancestors to Country consistent with cultural protocols was also reflected by Michael Douglas, Wotjobaluk Nation, who said that 'the repatriation of ancestors is important because it allows them to be returned to the earth so their spirit will go onto the afterlife'.

The return of ancestors from overseas is the first part of the journey home, and each of the communities now considering the return to Country final resting arrangements for their ancestors. Aunty Vivian Mason, Walbanja Yuin Elder, said 'to bring our lady ancestor home is about connecting to spirit and ensuring she can rest on Country. This process is about healing and bringing community together'.

• Media release—First Nations ancestors coming home from Vienna

October 2023—United Kingdom

Eleven ancestors were returned at a joint handover ceremony hosted by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum. Representatives from the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Ngarrindjeri Community and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation travelled to Oxford to receive their ancestors and accompany them home.

From the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, three ancestors were returned to the custodianship of the respective community representatives during the handover ceremony. Brett Miller from the Far West Coast, South Australia said that 'bringing our ancestors back home, to Country, where they belong, provides a chance for our people and our community to grieve for our ancestors and to complete our cultural customs. The return allows for our ancestor to be free and to be at peace, and it is a step towards reconciliation.' While Sean Fagan, Wadawurrung, Victoria, said 'the return of ancestors is one of the highest priorities for the Wadawurrung community. The community is motivated to see our ancestor returned to Country with the ultimate aim of wanting to lay them to rest in their rightful place.'

Tina Scott, Wiradjuri Bathurst, New South Wales provided a personal reflection to guide her ancestor home, saying 'be lost no more Aunty, I am bringing you back home to country and to us. I am humbled to be the chosen one to bring you home. Let our healing journey be together to reunite you with our people'. Department representatives received stewardship of one Ngadjuri ancestor at the request of the community and two ancestors with provenance to New South Wales and Queensland will also return under stewardship.

As part of the joint handover ceremony the Pitt Rivers Museum returned two ancestors to the custodianship of community representatives. James Smith from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, New South Wales, said that the 'repatriation of our ancestors is paramount to healing and reconciliation, it is critical to our health and wellbeing. Our ancestors belong on County and they are our responsibility' while Mark Koolmatrie, Elder of the Ngarrindjeri Community reflected that 'to heal our people we must first heal from care of our ancestors. It is this interconnectedness between people, land, waters, cosmology, and ancestral journeys that completes the cycle of wholeness'.

The stewardship of two Erub Island ancestors were also transferred to department representatives and they will be welcomed home by community representatives on arrival in Australia. Uncle Jimmy Gela from the Erubam Le Traditional Land and Sea Owners Corporation, said that the repatriation of the Erub Island ancestors brought 'feelings of sweet emotion and comfort in knowing that the long-lost part of our lineage, life's history, has been given back to us, this return of our ancestors brings with it reconciliation and healing to our people' and stewardship of one ancestor was also transferred to department representatives so they can be cared for closer to home.

The return of ancestors back to Australia and back to Country is significant for healing for First Nations people.

• Media release—First Nations ancestors to return home from the UK

November 2022—Germany

In a handover ceremony hosted by the Grassi Museum in Leipzig, Germany five ancestors were returned to their Traditional Custodians. First Nations representatives from the Gannagal, Worimi, Awabakal and Mutthi Mutthi communities in New South Wales travelled to Germany to receive their respective ancestors and accompany them home. One ancestor was returned under stewardship of the Australian Government to be closer to home.

David Feeney from Worimi Nation reflected that 'Aboriginal ancestors were removed from Australia, sent overseas and placed in museums and universities and private collections and healing will start when our people are back on Country.' On 19 December 2022 the Worimi Nation returned their ancestor to Country for their final resting. Jamie Tarrant from Worimi Nation noted that the return of the Worimi ancestor to their traditional lands brings a sense of relief and healing to the people of the Worimi Nation. 'There is comfort in knowing that our ancestor is back where they belong on Country.'

The significance of returning ancestors to Country was a shared sentiment by the delegation. 'It is important that our ancestors are returned and buried on their traditional lands by their people in accordance with Aboriginal lore and customs. Repatriating our ancestors and being part of this process is helping to retain our culture, bringing healing and justice to the unjust treatment of our people since colonisation' said Rowena Welsh, Gannagal representative.

The return of ancestors from overseas is the first part of the journey home. The community representatives will accompany their ancestors' back to Australia, and then make the appropriate arrangements for their final resting. 'It is vital that the remains of Aboriginal people be returned to Country to ensure the passing of spirit to the next plane. By returning our ancestors back to Country we can heal our community and heal our Country to its rightful position as best we can', said Kumarah Kelly, Awabakal representative.

Kaleana Reyland, Mutthi Mutthi representative also stated that 'to return ancestors back to Country is our cultural obligation and inherit right. Returning our ancestor is very significant and we will continue the journey of returning our ancestors back home, on Country and hope that the younger generations don't have this heavy burden to carry.'

The State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony acknowledged that the repatriation of ancestors is central to how they operate which includes adhering to an ethic of mindfulness and respect. This means prioritising the needs and concerns of the Traditional Custodians and forming new relationships. Included in this approach is the acceptance of historical responsibility towards the descendants of communities affected by colonial violence.

Media release—Returning First Nations ancestors back to Country

November 2022—United Kingdom

Eighteen ancestors were returned during a handover ceremony hosted jointly by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. One Old Person from the Lake Hawdon/Guichen Bay area of South Australia was returned to a community representative from the South East First Nations, and seventeen ancestors were returned under the stewardship of the Australian Government.

The South East First Nations Elders Group nominated Robyn Campbell as their community representative to travel overseas to receive the Lake Hawdon Old Person and accompany the Old Person home. The Old Person will be held in temporary care until the community is ready to return the Old Person to Country.

Robyn Campbell commented that 'we have been made sick and worried about what happened to our Old People, always knowing our relationship and connection to Country is the foundation of our culture and ways of living. Our ways determine the importance of always remaining connected to Country, so our ancestor's removal to an alien museum environment has been a source of great distress and shame. The return of our Old People is to fulfil our cultural obligations and we hope it will contribute to our recovery as First Nations people.'

A representative of the Australian Government accompanied the other seventeen ancestors to Australia so they can be cared for closer to home.

The Australian Government is continuing to progress discussions with other institutions in the United Kingdom to facilitate future returns.

• Media release—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors returned home from the United Kingdom

July 2022—United States of America

In a handover ceremony hosted by the Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Two ancestors were returned to representatives from Narungga Nation of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia; Kaurna Nation, Adelaide, South Australia and 23 ancestors were returned under the stewardship of the Australian Government.

Representatives from Narungga and Kaurna Nations received their respective ancestors and accompanied them home. They will be held in temporary care until to communities are ready to return them to Country. Douglas Milera commented that 'my Narungga community continues to mourn the devastating loss of our ancestors who were taken from their homelands and this repatriation is vital for our Community to now start the healing process of bringing them home and for our ancestors' spirits to rest in peace on Country'. In October 2022, the Narrunga community returned their ancestor to Country for final resting.

This sentiment was echoed by Allan Sumner who said 'the repatriation process involves both Aboriginal people and the institutions who wrongfully took our old people away. This is an opportunity to recognise the wrongs of the past and unite together in the spirit of reconciliation. But more importantly to come together to honour the spirits of the ancestors who are now coming home'.

Representatives of the Australian Government accompanied the 23 ancestors home where they will be placed in temporary care while further provenance research will be undertaken to identify their traditional custodians. The Department is continuing to progress discussions with other institutions in the United States of America to facilitate further returns.

• Media Release—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors to return home

November 2019—Germany

The remains of 45 ancestors were returned to Australia from the State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony. Representatives from Gunaikurnai, Victoria, Ngarrindjeri, South Australia and Menang, Western Australia travelled to Germany to receive and accompany their ancestors' home.

Gunaikurnai representative, Bianca Baxter commented that repatriation is about healing 'our ancestors deserve to be laid to rest at home on Country, and there is comfort in knowing they are back where they belong'. The repatriation of ancestors is essential to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Megan Krouker from the Menang community said 'the repatriation of our ancestors is about honouring our people, and bringing them to Country to bury them the right way in accordance with our traditions. This contributes to healing the past trauma that is still felt today'.

The Department is continuing to progress discussions with other German institutions to advocate for the repatriation of ancestors and facilitate further returns.

• Media Release—45 ancestors to be repatriated from Germany

April 2019—Germany

Three repatriation handover ceremonies were held across Germany to mark the return of over 53 ancestors from the Munich Five Continents Museum, the Linden-Museum Stuttgart, the University of Freiburg, Martin Luther University Halle and the State Ethnographic Collections Saxony.

Community representatives from the Gimuy Walubara Yidindji community, Cairns, Queensland received their Ancestral King, returned from the Five Continents Museum in Munich. Gudju Gudju Fourmille commented 'we are active advocates for the return of ancient ancestors to Country, so that their spirit can rest and their Country and people can stop searching'.

The Yawuru community in Broome Western Australia received 15 Yawuru ancestors. Yawuru representative David Puertollano commented 'I am very honoured to be involved in this historical moment for our community. We are bringing our old people home to Yawuru Buru where they belong and to keep our liyan strong'.

The remaining ancestors were accompanied back to Australia under stewardship of the Australian Government where further community consultation and research will be undertaken to return the ancestors to Country. The ongoing work between the Australian Government, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and German collecting institutions demonstrates the commitment to the respectful return of ancestors and the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the rightful custodians.

• Media release—Record number of Indigenous ancestors returned from Germany

March 2019—United Kingdom

The ancestors of over 30 South Australian Old People have been returned to Australia from the Natural History Museum in London. Two Narungga community representatives from South Australia attended the ceremony in London to receive and accompany their Old Person home. Narungga representative Doug Milera commented 'the fact that we are bringing them home now means that the anger and frustration can subside'.

The Australian Government took stewardship of the remaining Old People at the time of return. In July 2019 over 30 Kaurna people travelled to Canberra to receive the Old People and accompany them back to Country where they were reburied and in July 2023 the Far West Coast community returned their ancestors to Country for final resting.

Further consultation will be undertaken with the Ngarrindjeri and Flinders Ranges communities to facilitate the return to Country of their ancestors.

• Media release—37 ancestral remains returned to Australia from United Kingdom

August 2018—Sweden

Two repatriation ceremonies were held in Sweden to mark the return of eight ancestors held at the University of Lund and Karolinska Institute. The eight ancestors were returned to Australia under the stewardship of the Australian Government. Seven ancestors are being held under in temporary care while further provenance research is undertaken to determine their communities of origin.

On return to Australia the Kaurna Old Person was returned to traditional custodians from Kaurna Nation, Adelaide. Traditional custodians received the ancestor, along with another Kaurna ancestor previously returned from Austria. Both ancestors were reburied on Country in Adelaide. Kaurna Elder Jeffrey Newchurch said 'it is humbling to be able to lay to rest these Kaurna Old People on Country'.

• Kaurna Nation Statement Repatriation of Kaurna Old Person

October 2017—Canada

A female Wardandi ancestor from the Margaret River region of Western Australia has been returned to her traditional custodians. The ceremony was held at the Australian High Commission in Ottawa and marks the first repatriation of ancestors from Canada supported by the Australian Government. The Wardandi ancestor was returned by a Private Collector based in Vancouver.

A Representative of the Wardandi community, Tahn Donovan, travelled to Ottawa to accompany her Old Person home. Ms Donovan stated “We all feel quite sad about our ancestor being taken, but want to ensure her repatriation encourages others to return ancestors to traditional custodians here in Australia in the future”.  

In May 2020 the Wardandi community returned their ancestor to Country, where she will rest undisturbed. 

• Media release—Repatriation of Australian Indigenous ancestors

October 2017—Germany

A repatriation ceremony was held at the State Museum of Hannover, Germany, to return a female ancestor to her community, the Lama Lama family group of Port Stewart, Queensland. This was the second repatriation of ancestors from Germany in 2017.

The Lama Lama People commented on the return of their ancestor, “Bringing her home, touches on our shared pain and our untold histories. For us, it is important that the past is set right for her and our ancestors”.

The Lama Lama Community, returned their ancestor directly to Country, they laid her spirit to rest in November 2017.

• Media release—Repatriation of Australian Indigenous ancestors

March 2017—Germany

The Australian Embassy in Berlin hosted a repatriation ceremony to return three ancestors who were held at three German collecting institutions. Far north Queensland ancestor King Ng:tja, Barry Clarke, was returned to his direct descendants of the Ngadjon-Jii community, from the Berlin Society of Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory. King Ng:tja was reinterred on Country by his descendants in May 2021.

The Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt returned an unnamed ancestor to traditional custodians from the Clarence River region of New South Wales. An unnamed Queensland ancestor was also returned from the Charité Medical University in Berlin under Australian Government stewardship. Further provenance research is being undertaken to support the return of this ancestor to their traditional custodians.

• Media release—First Australians’ ancestral remains return to country

October 2016—United Kingdom

In a moving handover ceremony in London, 13 ancestors were returned by four institutions to traditional owners and representatives from communities in Western Australia, South Australia and to the Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation. The Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton, the University of Birmingham, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the University of Cambridge from the United Kingdom participated in the official repatriation ceremony.

• Media release—Repatriation of 13 Australian Indigenous ancestral remains from four UK collecting institutions

November 2015—United Kingdom

The Hampshire Cultural Trust in Winchester held a ceremony to handover remains of an Australian Indigenous ancestor. Originally removed from Kempsey, the ancestor was taken to the United Kingdom in the1960s. Dunghutti community representatives from Kempsey in New South Wales took custodianship of their ancestor who was returned to Country.

• Media release—Aboriginal ancestral remains return home from the UK

June 2015—United States of America

A private holder in the United States of America returned the remains of a New South Wales Indigenous ancestor to traditional custodians. This ancestor was returned to Country on the north coast of New South Wales.

• Media release—Traditional custodians bring Aboriginal ancestral remains home from the USA

The Charité University Hospital in Berlin returned the remains of 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors to representatives of Indigenous communities in Western Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. This is the second repatriation from the Charité and demonstrates the commitment from Germany to work with Indigenous Australian communities to repatriate ancestral remains.

In a separate ceremony, the Charité also returned a Robbins Island ancestor to traditional custodians of Tasmania. This ancestor was returned to Country and reburied in a private ceremony.

• Media release—Indigenous ancestral remains to return home from Germany

June 2014—United States of America

Tasmanian Aboriginal representatives travelled to the United States of America to receive three ancestors from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. The Museum acquired the ancestral remains in 1958 as part of a collection of artefacts gathered in the late 19th century. The representatives participated in a ceremony and accompanied their ancestors' home.

April 2013—Germany

The Charité University Hospital in Berlin returned 33 Australian Indigenous ancestors. This was the first return of Australian Indigenous ancestral remains from Germany through the Indigenous Repatriation Program. The ancestors were from communities in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. On return to Australia, 11 ancestors were returned to community in a moving ceremony in far north Queensland.

December 2012—Czech Republic

The Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic, held a handover ceremony to return eight Australian Indigenous ancestors belonging to six communities in Arnhem Land. These were the only known Australian Indigenous ancestral remains held in the Czech Republic.

September 2012—United States of America

A known Australian Indigenous ancestor from New South Wales was repatriated from the Harvard Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Washington D.C. The ancestor was held by the Museum since the late 19th century. The ancestor was accompanied home and returned to Country.

June 2012—United States of America

Stanford University in California returned two Australian Indigenous ancestors to Australia. These ancestors were placed in the temporary care of the National Museum of Australia so further provenance research can be undertaken to determine the communities of origin.

June 2011—United Kingdom

Three Australian Indigenous ancestors from Glasgow Museums and one mummified ancestor from National Museums Liverpool were returned to Australia. The ancestors were placed in the temporary care of the National Museum of Australia so further provenance research can be undertaken to identify a community of origin and a final resting place be determined.

June 2011—Austria

The repatriation of 30 Australian Indigenous ancestors was facilitated from the Austrian Academy of Science and The Pathology and Anatomy Museum in Vienna, Austria. The ancestors were handed back to five traditional owners and custodians from New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

March 2011—United Kingdom

The Natural History Museum in London announced they would repatriate over 130 Torres Strait Islander ancestors to their communities of origin. The Natural History Museum returned three Australian Indigenous ancestors after this announcement and another 19 ancestors in November 2011. Other returns will occur as communities are ready.

• Media release—Single largest return of Torres Strait Islander remains

October 2010—United Kingdom

The National Museums Liverpool returned the ancestral remains of a young Torres Strait Islander child to traditional custodians. The ancestor was returned to Erub (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait.

July 2010—United States of America

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC returned nine Australian Indigenous ancestors to representatives from Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land. The ancestors were taken from their burial places during the 1948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. Traditional owners performed ceremony and accompanied their ancestors' back to Country.

• Media release—Indigenous traditional owners to bring home remains from the United States