First Nations ancestors back in Australia in first repatriation from Japan

The Albanese Labor Government has welcomed the return of 10 First Nations ancestors from three Japanese collecting institutions. A joint ceremony was held in Tokyo. This is the first ever return of ancestors from Japan.
  • Seven ancestors were returned from the University of Tokyo, which included one Kaurna Old Person who was returned to the South Australian Kaurna Nation Traditional Custodians.
  • The University of Kyoto returned two ancestors to their respective community representatives from Western Australia. This included representatives from the Bardi and Jawi community and Yawuru community from the Kimberley region.
  • The National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo also returned one ancestor with provenance to Australia, so they could be cared for closer to home.

This return of ancestors from Japan follows another successful repatriation in April that welcomed 36 Queensland ancestors home from the Natural History Museum in London, bringing the total of repatriated ancestors from collecting institutions and private holdings in the United Kingdom to over 1300.

These returns mean the Australian Government has now repatriated more than 1,785 ancestors from overseas collections in partnership with First Nations people.

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