Domestic repatriation

The Indigenous Repatriation Program—Museum Grants (the Program) supports the return of Australian First Nations peoples' ancestral remains (ancestors) and secret sacred objects (objects) held in the collections of eight major Australian museums to their Traditional Custodians. The eight eligible major museums are: Australia Museum, National Museum of Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Museum Victoria, Queensland Museum, South Australian Museum, Tasmanian Museum and Gallery and Western Australian Museum.

These eight museums are eligible to apply for funding under the Program to work in partnership with identified First Nations communities to return their ancestors and objects. The Australian Government recognises the importance and cultural significance of First Nations communities being directly involved in the repatriation process. It is estimated that more than 3,400 ancestors and more than 2,300 secret sacred objects have been returned to the custodianship of their Communities. Each museum funded under the Program is responsible for the management of their respective repatriation programs. 2024–25 grants are in place for seven of the eligible Museums.

Objectives for the Program are to:

Identify the origin of ancestors and objects held in the collections of the funded museums.
Empower First Nations communities to be involved in the repatriation of ancestors and objects.
Repatriate ancestors and objects in the funded museums' collections to their Traditional Custodians.
Facilitate discussion with Traditional Custodians for culturally appropriate storage and access to ancestors and objects.
Support the engagement and/or employment of First Nations people to provide assistance, support and cultural advice to progress the repatriation of ancestors and objects to their Traditional Custodians.

2023–24 Museum Grant Highlights

The AM returned one ancestor to the Worimi Community. Research was also undertaken to clarify the provenance of several other ancestors and consultation was undertaken with a number of communities, including in relation to more than 200 objects. Work to appropriately store a number of ancestors and objects, including 435 Cyclons, was also completed.
SAM facilitated the return of two ancestors to the Warlpiri community and the reburial of 70 Kaurna ancestors at the Wangayarta, Smithfield Memorial Park. SAM undertook research to confirm the provenance of 96 ancestors and 22 objects from a number of Communities; and made substantial progress towards the establishment of a Ngarrindjeri Resting Place.
Provenance research and other preparations, including reboxing, were made in relation to the return of three Cyclons to the Adnyamathanha Community in South Australia. Discussions were held relating to the return of five Petroglyphs within Tasmania, along with the preparation of custom-built crates for the transportation of the five Petroglyphs.

2022–23 Museum Grant Highlights

In late 2021, the Museum received a request from the Mirning community for the return of nine Ancestors. A request from the Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation (MTLAC) was subsequently made to undertake a visit to the Eucla area to assess possible locations for a re-burial event This visit resulted in the identification of a location near Eucla for the re-burial of ancestors from the immediate area and addressed suggestions to consider a second re-burial location for ancestors recovered from further west.

2021–22 Museum Grant Highlights

In May 2022, the AM returned three Wellington ancestors to community for reburial on Country. The AM reviewed its holdings and developed new master documents for the ancestors and objects they are caring for as well as creating a digital file for each ancestor (351 in total). During the year, the AM also conducted community meetings and consultations to support future repatriations.
The QM repatriated ten ancestors and ten secret sacred objects to Lardil, Yangkaal, Gangalidda, Garawa and Kaiadilt communities in June 2022. The QM also completed construction of a lifting platform to support the physical relocation of a Burnett River Rock engraved boulder which were due to return to Country in late 2022.
SAM returned 61 hair and blood samples to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation. The remains of one ancestor was returned to the Maralinga Tjarutja community and the ancestor was reburied on Country in November 2021.

In December 2021, SAM supported the Kaurna community to rebury 134 Kaurna ancestors at the northern mound of the cemetery within the Smithfield Memorial Park grounds.

In addition, a further 220 Kaurna ancestors from the western areas of Adelaide were reburied in the western mound of the Memorial Park in June 2022.
TMAG undertook consultations with the Pakana community and also packed and crated 15 Petroglyphs ready for their return. TMAG progressed work on the logistical arrangements for transporting the Petroglyphs to the site on Country. The community also undertook preparations at the site, with the return of the Petroglyphs being planned for November 2022.

TMAG returned 14 Pakana/Palawa ancestors to representatives of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in September 2021.

Museums Repatriation Representatives Meeting

In April 2024, the Department hosted a national meeting of museum repatriation representatives in Canberra. The meeting provided an opportunity for repatriation representatives from the eight museums funded under the Program to workshop repatriation issues affecting First Nations people. Participants discussed a range of topics including temporary care arrangements, grants reporting and cultural objects on loan as well as ways to share knowledge and proposed repatriation activities and challenges for 2024–25. The key outcomes of the meeting were information sharing, improving collaboration and fostering best practice to better support First Nations communities to repatriate their ancestors and objects.

More information

For more information on the Program, email repatriation@arts.gov.au.

For more information about the respective museum repatriation programs and the return of ancestors and objects in their safekeeping, please contact the museums directly.

Indigenous Repatriation

The Australian Government supports the repatriation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains (ancestors) and secret sacred objects (objects) which contributes to healing and reconciliation.
International Repatriation

The Australian Government seeks the voluntary and unconditional return of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains (ancestors) held in overseas collecting institutions and with private holders.