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Natural History Museum agrees to Aboriginal remains talks

2 March 2007 - Mediation talks will take place between the Natural History Museum and Aboriginal leaders over repatriation of remains.

indigenous delegation, protest outside natural history museum, london 2007 photo courtesy Kevin Brown

The Natural History Museum has agreed to enter mediation over the remains of Tasmanian Aborigines from the 19th century.

A row broke out between the museum and authorities in Australia over plans to take samples from the remains before they are returned to Tasmanian indigenous leaders.

The Australian government and Tasmanian leaders were preparing to take the London museum to the High Court over the issue, but both sides have now agreed to mediation to avoid paying steep legal fees.

It is still unclear where and when talks between the parties will take place and the Natural History Museum continues to insist that samples from the remains could provide scientists with important information.

Tasmanian indigenous leaders claim that taking samples from the remains amounts to desecration and want them returned immediately, accusing the Natural History Museum of using mediation as a delaying tactic.

Remains of Tasmanian and New Zealand indigenous groups have been returned over the past year, as part of a repatriation programme by British museums.

Source: UKTV History

Further information: repatriation issues page - includes news index and external links

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