Group to work on return of remains

From Kirstie Parker at The Koori Mail

The Federal Government says it will overhaul the processes for the repatriation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remains and cultural material from international institutions to make them more inclusive of Indigenous aspirations. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced on Friday that the Government would establish a new International Repatriation Advisory Committee to steer the review.

Ms Macklin said she would call for expressions of interest and the committee would be appointed in September.

“The committee will advise the Government on a range of issues, including reviewing current international repatriation policy and finding a more effective way to deliver on international repatriation,” she said.

The development came at the International Conference on the Inclusive Museum held at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane on Friday, just before a panel of Indigenous people from the Torres Strait, the Kimberley, Groote Eylandt and South Australia shared some of their experiences of repatriation.

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