❓ The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs provides an update on the ancestral remains repatriation program, highlighting progress since 2013, recent repatriation events, and ongoing efforts to return remains from both within Australia and overseas. The Minister acknowledges the sensitivity and complexity of the repatriation process and commends the involved parties.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS — ANCESTRAL REMAINS
REPATRIATION PROGRAM
866. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the government's
ancestral remains repatriation program, which on Tuesday saw remains that had
been held by the Western Australian Museum for 100 years finally returned to
country.
Can the minister update the house on
the progress of the repatriation program and advise the house how it has been
received by the Aboriginal community?
REPATRIATION PROGRAM
866. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the government's
ancestral remains repatriation program, which on Tuesday saw remains that had
been held by the Western Australian Museum for 100 years finally returned to
country.
Can the minister update the house on
the progress of the repatriation program and advise the house how it has been
received by the Aboriginal community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka
for the question. This is something with which she is very familiar. I think
that, since the repatriation of Yagan's skull, Western Australians have
become very familiar with the fact that for well over 100 years the remains of
Aboriginal people have been taken and scattered across the globe—not
just around the museums of Australia. As a result, the Department of Planning,
Lands and Heritage, in its various forms, has had a repatriation program for a number
of years designed for that very purpose—to return the remains of
Aboriginal people for proper burial on country.
Since
2013 it has worked with the Western Australian Museum and Aboriginal
communities, who, as members would appreciate,
are most anxious to have the remains of relatives and other members returned to
country. Since 2013 it has facilitated the return to Aboriginal communities of
108 sets of an ancestral remains. During the 2017–18 financial
year, eight projects were completed that resulted in the repatriation and
reburial of 11 sets of ancestral remains. Although the work has been going
well, about 114 sets of remains are awaiting repatriation. We are working with
communities and those who hold those remains to ensure that they can be
returned and buried appropriately.
This week on Tuesday, 30 October,
the Tjiwarl traditional owners interred the remains of an ancestor that had
been held by the WA Museum for over 100 years. They were returned to country
and interred near Leinster in the goldfields. Indeed, if anyone is interested,
ABC Online had a very good story about it with a range of photographs showing the celebration by the local Tjiwarl
leadership. Those remains have been with the WA Museum since 1899 and held in care since that time. Importantly, the
Tjiwarl people had about 70 people on country celebrate that moving ceremony. I will quote the Tjiwarl native title director, Colleen Berry, who
said there were mixed emotions at the ceremony. She said, ''There was
sadness and also happiness for having her come home to where she was from.''
I congratulate the department and
the WA Museum for finally repatriating this set of remains. The work will
continue and, I suspect, with 114 sets of remains—it is actually harder
than members would expect to have those remains repatriated for various
reasons. Suffice to say, as I move around Western Australia I am regularly
asked by traditional owners about remains that are located in parts of Europe
to try to ensure that those remains are returned. A lot are still located
throughout Europe from the days of colonisation—or the war of
colonisation, if you like. It is a similar story throughout Australia, but I want
to acknowledge the Tjiwarl people and congratulate them for the return of their
ancestor to country. I look forward to continuing this effort, which has
survived consecutive governments, to ensure that the ancestral remains of
Aboriginal people are returned to the country from which they came.
for the question. This is something with which she is very familiar. I think
that, since the repatriation of Yagan's skull, Western Australians have
become very familiar with the fact that for well over 100 years the remains of
Aboriginal people have been taken and scattered across the globe—not
just around the museums of Australia. As a result, the Department of Planning,
Lands and Heritage, in its various forms, has had a repatriation program for a number
of years designed for that very purpose—to return the remains of
Aboriginal people for proper burial on country.
Since
2013 it has worked with the Western Australian Museum and Aboriginal
communities, who, as members would appreciate,
are most anxious to have the remains of relatives and other members returned to
country. Since 2013 it has facilitated the return to Aboriginal communities of
108 sets of an ancestral remains. During the 2017–18 financial
year, eight projects were completed that resulted in the repatriation and
reburial of 11 sets of ancestral remains. Although the work has been going
well, about 114 sets of remains are awaiting repatriation. We are working with
communities and those who hold those remains to ensure that they can be
returned and buried appropriately.
This week on Tuesday, 30 October,
the Tjiwarl traditional owners interred the remains of an ancestor that had
been held by the WA Museum for over 100 years. They were returned to country
and interred near Leinster in the goldfields. Indeed, if anyone is interested,
ABC Online had a very good story about it with a range of photographs showing the celebration by the local Tjiwarl
leadership. Those remains have been with the WA Museum since 1899 and held in care since that time. Importantly, the
Tjiwarl people had about 70 people on country celebrate that moving ceremony. I will quote the Tjiwarl native title director, Colleen Berry, who
said there were mixed emotions at the ceremony. She said, ''There was
sadness and also happiness for having her come home to where she was from.''
I congratulate the department and
the WA Museum for finally repatriating this set of remains. The work will
continue and, I suspect, with 114 sets of remains—it is actually harder
than members would expect to have those remains repatriated for various
reasons. Suffice to say, as I move around Western Australia I am regularly
asked by traditional owners about remains that are located in parts of Europe
to try to ensure that those remains are returned. A lot are still located
throughout Europe from the days of colonisation—or the war of
colonisation, if you like. It is a similar story throughout Australia, but I want
to acknowledge the Tjiwarl people and congratulate them for the return of their
ancestor to country. I look forward to continuing this effort, which has
survived consecutive governments, to ensure that the ancestral remains of
Aboriginal people are returned to the country from which they came.
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