Tribes from Nagaland, India, recently engaged in discussions at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England, to negotiate the repatriation of their ancestors' remains. These remains were taken during the colonial era and have been part of the museum's collection for decades. This visit underscores a growing global movement advocating for the return of indigenous remains and stolen artifacts to their original communities, representing a significant step in addressing historical injustices stemming from colonialism and slavery.
Skulls and other human remains were frequently transported from regions such as Asia and Africa to former colonial powers like Britain. These items were often treated as "trophies," used for trade, display, or scientific study, reflecting a colonial mindset that disregarded the cultural and spiritual significance of these remains to indigenous populations.
The Pitt Rivers Museum, affiliated with Oxford University, houses the world's largest Naga collection. This collection includes thousands of artifacts, 41 human remains (primarily skulls), and 178 objects containing or potentially containing human hair. In 2020, the museum removed all human remains from public display, a decision that included the ancestors of Dolly Kikon, an anthropologist from Nagaland's Lotha-Naga tribe. Kikon, who teaches at the University of California, traveled to Oxford with the Naga delegation.
According to Reuters, Kikon stated, "For the first time, there is a Naga delegation (at the museum) to connect and to reclaim our history, our culture, and our belongings." This visit marks a pivotal moment in the tribe's efforts to reclaim their heritage. Vihuto Asumi, the President of the tribal body Sumi Hoho, is also a part of the delegation. "We thought that our ancestors, who were taken away far from home, in a foreign land, we believe that their souls are restless. They have to find peace. They deserve a graceful and honorable homage back home, and so for that, we came to claim their remains."
Historians note that many of the remains were taken by colonial officers from burial sites and battlefields in Nagaland, where headhunting was a traditional practice for centuries. Other remains were looted through acts of violence, further emphasizing the unethical acquisition of these artifacts.
Laura Van Broekhoven, the museum's director, acknowledged the bureaucratic challenges involved, making the exact timing of the repatriation uncertain. However, she affirmed the museum's commitment to ongoing discussions with various groups to facilitate further returns. The 23 Naga representatives, including tribal elders, echoed calls from British lawmakers and activists for government legislation to protect ancestral remains.
The broader context of this event includes increasing instances of repatriation from British museums. For example, the Natural History Museum in London has returned the remains of 36 Indigenous ancestors to their respective communities. Over the past three decades, more than 1,300 ancestors have been repatriated from the UK. There are still calls for the British government to provide increased assistance to help facilitate further repatriations. The Natural History Museum still holds the remains of approximately 200 Indigenous people.
The return of ancestral remains is viewed as a crucial step toward reconciliation and truth-telling. Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, has emphasized the importance of returning ancestors to their rightful place, stating, "The return will mean so much to the First Nations communities affected. This is critical work towards healing and justice."
