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Return of ancestral remains from London heralds many more returns

9 April 2003 - "They have been absent for a century or more, the remains are not complete, but now at least their spirits have returned," said ATSIC CommissionerRodney Dillon today at a welcoming ceremony in Canberra for the remains of some 60 Aboriginal people returned to Australia from the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

"The trade in our remains was once vigorous and prolonged-it happened within the memory of people still alive," the Commissioner said.

"There were those who made a living from taking our remains. Our graves were robbed. Some of us were murdered to order.

"Imagine how the spirits of those returned must now feel, their graves violated, their people dispersed and dispossessed over the period of their absence.

"And what would they think of the country they're returning to, where their descendants are still second class citizens and their traditional lands continue to be degraded and desecrated?

"Today is a happy occasion, but repatriations such as this also stir up powerful emotions. They remind us of the profound sadness underlying many Indigenous lives."

ATSIC Chairman, Geoff Clark, and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Philip Ruddock, also spoke at the welcoming ceremony.

"Some of our ancestors have come home and the healing of our communities can begin," Mr Clark said.

"Once it was thought acceptable to send my people's remains as 'specimens' to the other side of the world to museums and medical organisations for so-called scientific research.

"These practices were not just insensitive but barbaric, and, not before time, overseas and Australian institutions are now starting to make amends."

The remains received in Canberra are principally of the Yorta Yorta (Victoria-New South Wales) and Ngarrindjeri (South Australia) peoples. Their repatriation was arranged by Brisbane organisation the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) which received a grant from ATSIC.

FAIRA representative Mr Bob Weatherall accompanied two traditional custodians, Mr Major Sumner (Ngarrindjeri) and Mr Henry Atkinson (Yorta Yorta) on the journey back to Australia.

"I congratulate the custodians who have fulfilled their obligations to their ancestors," Mr Clark said. "The remains will be kept at the National Museum of Australia until their final journey home to their communities of origin."

Commissioner Dillon, Chair of the Board's Culture, Rights and Justice Committee, has for many years been an active advocate of repatriation. He said he was hopeful this return would be followed by many more.

"ATSIC is now working with the Commonwealth and other agencies to take advantage of changing attitudes overseas," the Commissioner said.

"In July 2000 our Prime Minister signed a communiqué with the British Prime Minister committing their two governments to cooperation on repatriation.

"A working group reviewing current museum legislation is expected to report to the UK Parliament next month. We hope this report will recommend the necessary changes to legislation to allow our ancestors to be released from public collecting institutions.

"In anticipation of this, the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has supported the holding of a national workshop to develop cooperative arrangements between agencies and communities involved in repatriation," the Commissioner said.

Commissioner Dillon also thanked the Minister for "his presence and sensitive words at this welcoming home ceremony today".

"Mr Ruddock understands the importance of repatriation for my community.

"However, it is not always recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities want to stay in control of the repatriation of their ancestors.

"Communities don't always need to have the process completed quickly, but in a manner which allows the custodians to make the important decisions about how their ancestors will be returned to their country.

"We remain injured and incomplete while our ancestors are locked up in museum cupboards or basements far away. Sensitive repatriation will go a long way towards healing the hurts of the past and will assist our people to heal themselves."

Media release: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)

Aboriginal Remains Welcomed Home From UK

9 April 2003 - Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock has welcomed the return home of the remains of about 60 Aboriginal people from London's Royal College of Surgeons at a ceremony in Canberra today.

'It is appropriate to recall those times in our not too distant past when scientists and other collectors thought it was acceptable to remove the remains of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their resting places and send them to the other side of the world,' Mr Ruddock said.

'Today we are acknowledging this past injustice and recognising the legacy of hurt endured by Indigenous communities.

'We are also celebrating the return, after many years, of individuals to their country and people.'

Mr Ruddock said the repatriation of Indigenous human remains was a priority of the Commonwealth following the signing in July 2000 of a joint statement between the British and Australian Prime Ministers.

The Commonwealth has given ATSIC the task of monitoring and, where appropriate, coordinating the flow of information between holding institutions, the Australian High Commission and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, and providing funding for organisations to repatriate human remains.

Mr Ruddock acknowledged the work done by ATSIC Commissioner Rodney Dillon in leading ATSIC's advocacy role in the UK and in Australia.

Through a grant provided by ATSIC, the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) has coordinated the repatriation of a collection of the remains of about 60 Aboriginal people from the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

Most of the remains are of Yorta Yorta (from the NSW-Victoria border) and Ngarrindjeri (South Australia) people and will be housed temporarily at the National Museum of Australia before their return to their home communities.

'I would like to congratulate the three traditional custodians, Major Sumner (Ngarrindjeri), Henry Atkinson (Yorta Yorta) and Bob Weatherall (FAIRA), who accompanied the remains of their ancestors back from London,' Mr Ruddock said.

'They have fulfilled a powerful commitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today to honour and fulfil their obligations to their ancestors.'

'It is hoped that there will be many more such repatriations over the coming years, given the evidence of changing attitudes in the UK, Europe and the United States.'

Media Release: Minister for Indigenous Affairs

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