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Return Of Tasmanian Aboriginal Remains

1 December 1997 - The University of Edinburgh - Media Release - The University handed over the limited Tasmanian Aboriginal hair samples from its anatomy collection to a delegation from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre at a ceremony held in Old College on Monday 1 December.

This was done in accordance with the University's policy which is governed by the principle that, subject to appropriate safeguards, it will return human remains from its historic anatomy collection, when requested, to appropriate representatives of cultures for which such remains continue to have particular significance. It is the University's wish that all returned human remains be passed to representatives of the people legitimately entitled to receive them, so that they can be held or disposed of in accordance with the customs and beliefs of these people.

The samples include a lock of hair recorded as being of Truganini. She was the daughter of Managana, leader of the Nununa people of Recherche Bay, and grew up on Bruny Island, one of the first places in Tasmania invaded by Europeans. Despite great persecution, which involved a long period of removal from her tribal lands, Truganini continued her cultural practices throughout her life. Her skeleton was on public display in Tasmania for a number of years before it was finally returned to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community and cremated in 1976.

The return of the hair samples follows the return in 1991 of a number of Tasmanian and other Aboriginal human remains held by the University to representatives of the Australian government.

The hair samples will be handed over on behalf of the University by the Secretary, Dr Martin Lowe, and will be received by Laurie Lowery, Jeanette James and Caroline Spotswood of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre on behalf of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community.

Media release from: Edinburgh University (UK)

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