Germany finally returns ancestral remains to Australia after over a century of injustice

In a ceremony held on Thursday, five sets of ancestral remains from Australia were handed back to representatives of the Ugar Island community, which is part of the Torres Strait Islands. These remains had been kept in German museum collections since the 19th century. The return of these remains is part of a broader effort by German museums and authorities to address human rights violations connected to colonialism. Hermann Parzinger, head of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, acknowledged the wrongful taking of these remains and artifacts, emphasizing the importance of repatriating items that rightfully belong to other cultures. The sets returned include three that were held in Berlin since 1880 and two from the city of Oldenburg. The event was marked by emotions of both sadness and joy, reflecting a complex history of colonialism and its ongoing impact on Indigenous communities. Rocky Stephen, a representative of the Ugar Island community, highlighted the significance of the return as a healing process for the community and stated that despite the lengthy journey to retrieve the remains, their absence has been felt for 144 years. Australian Ambassador to Germany, Natasha Smith, noted that this return is part of a larger movement, with 162 sets of ancestral remains having been returned from Germany to Australia and around 1,700 from various locations worldwide. This restitution process underscores the priority for Indigenous communities, which seek recognition and return of their cultural heritage. Parzinger reiterated Berlin's commitment to facilitating the repatriation of remains whose origins can be identified and are desired back by their respective communities. This ceremony is just one instance in a growing trend where museums and governments, particularly in Europe and North America, engage in resolving ownership disputes over items obtained during colonial times. Notable examples of this trend include the agreement signed in 2022 between Germany and Nigeria to repatriate the Benin Bronzes, artifacts taken by British colonial forces over a century ago. As the global conversation around colonial history and restitution continues to evolve, the repatriation of ancestral remains reflects a necessary step towards healing and justice for Indigenous peoples.