Indigenous Australians' remains finally return home after 150 years of absence

On Thursday, traditional funeral rites were conducted in Berlin for five indigenous Australians whose ancestral remains were set to be repatriated to Australia. The remains included two mummified bodies, two skulls, and a burial bundle, all taken from burial sites in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and brought to Germany around 1880. This repatriation marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to address the injustices inflicted during Germany's colonial era. Berlin’s Ethnological Museum and the State Museum for Nature and Man in Oldenburg facilitated the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of such returns for indigenous communities back home. The funeral service took place with representatives from these communities performing traditional songs and drumming, paying respects to the individuals who had been taken under colonial circumstances. Australian Ambassador Natasha Smith highlighted the critical nature of these actions, stating repatriations are a high priority for these communities and the Australian government. The repatriation of these five sets of remains contributes to a growing trend, as Australia and Germany have been working to reconcile past colonial wrongs. According to Ambassador Natasha Smith, the return of these remains raises the total number of human remains returned from Germany to Australia to 162 over recent years. Efforts to address this historical injustice reflect a broader reassessment of colonial legacies that had long been overshadowed by subsequent historical events, including the Nazi era. Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, acknowledged that the remains were never meant to be in Germany and expressed happiness that they are finally returning home. In a broader context, this act of repatriation aligns with Germany’s increasing commitment to facing its colonial past. In recent years, Germany began returning not only human remains but also cultural artifacts to countries like Namibia and Nigeria. The return of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria is another notable example that indicates a significant shift in Germany’s approach to its colonial history and the desire to atone for historical crimes. Additionally, museums in Germany are actively engaging in research concerning numerous other remains taken from colonized countries, aiming to facilitate future repatriations. This ongoing process emphasizes reparative justice, recognizing the importance of returning stolen cultural heritage and human remains to their rightful owners. As this discourse continues to evolve, representatives from various communities and organizations are advocating for the return of items taken during colonial expansions when indigenous cultures were often suppressed and disrespected. The repatriation of remains from Germany is a crucial step towards healing and acknowledging the historical traumas faced by indigenous peoples across the globe.