And the world keeps turning. A cliche perhaps but that’s how it felt when I heard about the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) decision to return 138 human remains to their descendants in the Torres Strait Islands.
This is massive and fantastic. Massive because of the sheer number of human remains being returned – the majority of the NHM’s holdings from the Torres Strait Islands. (The museum still has 33 hair samples, and which institution they will go to is under discussion.)
And it’s fantastic because it reminds us that nothing stays still. Power relationships shift. There is no doubt that the steady campaigning by Aboriginals over decades, and more recent UK and overseas governments’ dialogue that has led to the signing of treaties, instrumental working groups and increased knowledge about the oldest living culture on earth, has contributed to the shift.
There must have been many tipping points along the way but one of them surely was NHM finding itself in the High Court in 2007 when the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre refused to allow its ancestors to be part of a scientific study. This resulted in all Tasmanian remains being returned – most without scientific intervention.
I attended the High Court and later the press conference that announced the return and the significant change in the air was almost palpable. The NHM, which still wanted to dictate what would happen to the remains in its contemporary charge, had realised, perhaps been forced to see, that there were others to be listened to. Other museums, less consumed by scientific testing, had realised this much earlier.
There were tears of joy from the Torres Strait Islanders at the news that they are going to get their families back.
The islanders spokesman said it is no longer about blame. I agree. But the NHM must be careful in its ongoing relationship with the Torres Strait Islanders that dialogue is two-way and that actions should instil faith that listening and respect are now stable mates in every museum’s practice.
This is massive and fantastic. Massive because of the sheer number of human remains being returned – the majority of the NHM’s holdings from the Torres Strait Islands. (The museum still has 33 hair samples, and which institution they will go to is under discussion.)
And it’s fantastic because it reminds us that nothing stays still. Power relationships shift. There is no doubt that the steady campaigning by Aboriginals over decades, and more recent UK and overseas governments’ dialogue that has led to the signing of treaties, instrumental working groups and increased knowledge about the oldest living culture on earth, has contributed to the shift.
There must have been many tipping points along the way but one of them surely was NHM finding itself in the High Court in 2007 when the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre refused to allow its ancestors to be part of a scientific study. This resulted in all Tasmanian remains being returned – most without scientific intervention.
I attended the High Court and later the press conference that announced the return and the significant change in the air was almost palpable. The NHM, which still wanted to dictate what would happen to the remains in its contemporary charge, had realised, perhaps been forced to see, that there were others to be listened to. Other museums, less consumed by scientific testing, had realised this much earlier.
There were tears of joy from the Torres Strait Islanders at the news that they are going to get their families back.
The islanders spokesman said it is no longer about blame. I agree. But the NHM must be careful in its ongoing relationship with the Torres Strait Islanders that dialogue is two-way and that actions should instil faith that listening and respect are now stable mates in every museum’s practice.
