UK returns remains of 11 Indigenous Australians

After years of negotiations, two British museums have returned the ancestral remains of First Nations peoples collected more than a century ago.

The remains of 11 Indigenous Australians have been returned by two British museums after more than a century in storage.

After years of negotiations, Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum formally returned the remains to the custodianship of the Australian government during a ceremony in London.

They join 18 returned in 2022 as part of a federal government to push to repatriate the ancestral remains and artefacts of First Nations peoples collected by anthropologists and scientific institutions during the 19th and 20th centuries.

High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, signed a repatriation certificate at Australia House for the return of the 11 remains, four of which have provenance to Torres Strait, three to New South Wales, three to South Australia, and one to Victoria.

It’s the third return of ancestors following past returns in 2022, 2009 and 1990.

Sean Fagan, a representative from the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, travelled to London to accompany an ancestor home to Ballarat.

“The return of ancestors is one of the highest priorities for the Wadawurrung community,” he said in a statement.

High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom Stephen Smith signed a repatriation certificate. Photo: Ella Pellegrini

“The community is motivated to see our ancestor returned to the country with the ultimate aim of wanting to lay them to rest in their rightful place.”

Another ancestor from NSW’s Wiradjuri and Gadigal communities, James Smith, said returning the remains was their responsibility.

“The repatriation of our ancestors is paramount to healing and reconciliation, it is critical to our health and wellbeing,” he said.

Originally published as UK returns remains of 11 Indigenous Australians