At a glance:

• The Australian Government supports the return of cultural heritage material from overseas through the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program.
• The Australian Government supports the return of Ancestral Remains (Ancestors) from overseas through Office for the Arts (OFTA).
• The Australian Government has supported international repatriation for over 40 years. This has seen the return of 1,700 Ancestors from across nine countries back to Australia (see OFTA).
• Since 2018, AIATSIS has facilitated 18 returns of 1,976 cultural heritage items to Australia of which 154 were returned to Country (see AIATSIS).
• On 5 January 2022, the Australian Government announced its commitment to establish a National Resting Place within a new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct in Canberra—Ngurra Precinct.

Overview

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestral Remains (Ancestors) and cultural heritage material have been collected by non-indigenous peoples since before the landing of Captain Cook at Kamay (Botany Bay) in 1770. The earliest collection of objects currently recorded from Australia is by Dutch explorers in 1705.

Through to the 20^th century, thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestors were taken from their resting places and sent to collecting institutions across Australia and overseas. During the same period, cultural heritage material, both ceremonial and secular, was collected from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by explorers, ethnographers and researchers for universities, museums and private collections as well as ‘souvenirs’ or ‘trophies’ by tourists and amateur collectors. Much of the material remained in Australia but more than 120,000 cultural heritage objects were sent overseas to museums directly or indirectly. Many men’s and women’s secret and sacred items were taken from Australia for their ‘special’ value to overseas collectors and museums.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and allies have been calling and advocating for the return of their Ancestors and cultural heritage items for more than 50 years, spanning generations. In response to this, the Australian Government has funded programs to repatriate Ancestors from overseas and domestic museums for over 40 years (Ormond-Parker, 1997; Cressida Fforde and Lyndon Ormond Parker, 2001; department of Finance and Deregulation, 2009; Maria Nugent, 2009; Michael Pickering, 2015; Paul Turnbull, 2020), facilitated by the Indigenous Repatriation Program, Office for the Arts.

Since 2018, the Australian Government has funded AIATSIS to work with communities to return cultural heritage material from overseas. AIATSIS is dedicated to a community focused approach where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander custodians make decisions about where and how their cultural heritage material can be best cared for, this most often involves returning cultural heritage material to the on-Country keeping places of those communities.

Terminology to be familiar with

Below is terminology that maybe unique to repatriation discussions concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestors and cultural heritage material.

Community	A group of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who identify as a cultural unit.
Country	The term ‘Country’ means an area of land or body of water to which a community, organisation or individual has a cultural and/or spiritual connection, and in which they have rights or interests.
Custodian	An individual with cultural authority or knowledge which is recognised by the relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community.
Elders	Knowledge holders within a community, some of whom are Lawmen / Law women.
Native Title Bodies, Aboriginal Corporations, Native Title Representative Bodies	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned corporations, peak bodies and organisations that represent or work with or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Please note that these terms have specific meanings but are also used broadly in certain discussion (see https://nativetitle.org.au/)
Traditional Owners	Members of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community. Within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, some cultural heritage material is owned by individuals, while other material is the responsibility of the community, who are stewards of that material to ensure it is looked after for future generations.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is Australia’s only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures, and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. The vision of AIATSIS is a world in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultures are recognised, respected, celebrated, and valued.

The AIATSIS mission is to: tell the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia; create opportunities for people to encounter, engage with and be transformed by that story; support and facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural resurgence; and shape our national narrative (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023).

The Institutes functions were established under the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act 1989 (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 1989). The functions of the institute include: the development, preservation, and provision of access to a national collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage; to use that national collection to strengthen and promote knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage; to provide leadership in the fields of: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research; and ethics and protocols for research, and other activities relating to collections, related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and use (including use for research) of that national collection and other collections containing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage; to lead and promote collaborations and partnerships among the academic, research, non-government, business and government sectors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in support of the other functions of the Institute; to provide advice to the Commonwealth on the situation and status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023).

AIATSIS has a growing Collection of more than one million objects ranging from language material, films, photographs, audio recordings, art and objects, manuscripts and rare books, printed and other resource materials (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2022, 2023).

AIATSIS conducts Research with the highest ethical standards, to directly benefit the communities that they work with (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2022). The areas of study that the Institute specialise in are Languages and cultural expression; Native Title and traditional ownership; Education and cultural transmission; Governance development and public policy; Health and wellbeing; and Land and water (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2022).

AIATSIS’ in-house publisher, Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP), is Australia’s leading publisher of Australian Indigenous studies. They publish scholarly works, children’s books, biographies, dictionaries, and general interest books which we sell online, and in selected bookshops. Additionally, they publish journals, CDs, DVDs, and apps that engage people with the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. The authors are Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics and writers who work independently and, at times, collaboratively to ensure that the best of Australia’s stories are shared with current and future generations (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023).

The independent Education team at AIATSIS aims to influence what children learn at school about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and support educators and schools to teach confidently (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023). Core cultural Learning is an online course developed by AIATSIS in partnership with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Social Services. The program is designed to be informative, interactive and to create a greater awareness of the vast history and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023).

The Family History team at AIATSIS runs a program to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations survivors and their families by providing family history research assistance and access to information about their families.

The partnerships of AIATSIS span the globe, including government, academic, corporate, cultural and community sectors. The unique and dynamic convergence of knowledge, resources and expertise enable AIATSIS to tell the nation’s story and enhance the lives of all Australians (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2022).

‘The repatriation of our sacred cultural heritage items is a fundamental part of the healing and reconciliation process. Bringing these sacred cultural heritage items back to Country where they belong is important and necessary for the purpose of cultural revitalisation – because locked deep within these items is our lore, our histories, our traditions, our livelihoods and our stories.’

Mangubadijarri Yanner
Gangalidda Garawa Native Title Aboriginal Corporation

Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH)

In May 2024, the Australian Government announced  ongoing funding for AIATSIS to undertake Return of Cultural Heritage program. The Initiative seeks to return Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material from overseas collecting institutions, governments, and private holders back to their Traditional Custodians.

For 300 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage has been removed overseas and placed in museums, universities, and private collections. With funding from the Australian Government, AIATSIS is leading the Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program to return Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material held overseas to Australia (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023).

We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander material held overseas belongs to communities of origin within Australia and that sovereignty has not been ceded, including over material expressions of culture. The program therefore works with communities to facilitate the return of their cultural heritage to them. We also recognise that returning material to Country for the purpose of cultural maintenance and revitalisation is a key aspiration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Each return says, both to the nation and globally, that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is respected, celebrated, and valued.

The RoCH team supports Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples to affirm custodianship of their cultural heritage material held overseas and make decisions about where and how it can be best looked after in the present.

The program returns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material including objects, photographs, audio-visual records, artwork, and archival items.

The RoCH program:

1. Facilitates and secures the return of Indigenous cultural heritage materials from overseas to Australia.
2. Enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to understand where their cultural heritage material is held overseas.
3. Influences the development of changes to institutional repatriation practices, policy, and guidelines.
4. Fosters relationships between overseas collecting institutions and Indigenous communities.

This important work supports the cultural resurgence of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and contributes to the global discussion about the repatriation of cultural heritage material. Many nations around the world have been involved in this discussion for decades and it is hoped AIATSIS’ efforts will inform and intensify this conversation in the future. 

By July 2024, AIATSIS has facilitated 25 returns of 2171 cultural heritage items to Australia of which 336 were returned to Country (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2023). To find out about all our work see here.

Return of Material to Indigenous Communities (ROMTIC)

AIATSIS recognises the value of material within the AIATSIS Collection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations. The Institute developed the Return of Material to Indigenous Communities (ROMTIC) program to enable up to 20 copies of collection items to be provided for personal use, free of charge every financial year and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations can request up to three collections depending on the size and the access conditions of the collection; provided the items are not being used to produce something for profit. Each request will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Individuals or organisations who have been sent copies of material from the AIATSIS Collection are not legally allowed to make further copies of materials or distribute them further. Collection material requested under the ROMTIC program is subject to access conditions and the Copyright Act. Access conditions apply to all clients, including individuals and organisations requesting material under the ROMTIC program. Providing access to the AIATSIS Collection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities helps individuals reconnect with their family history, cultures, and knowledge; as well as improving access to the AISATSIS Collection as a whole. The Collection reflects both continuity and change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia.

Indigenous Repatriation Program (Office for the Arts [OFTA])

The Office of Arts (OFTA) facilitate the voluntary and unconditional return of Ancestors held in overseas collections and with private holders; and support the safe return of Ancestors and objects held in eight major Australian museums to their Traditional Custodians, contributing to healing and reconciliation (Office for the Arts, 2016).

For more than 200 years ancestors and objects were removed from their communities and placed in museums, universities and private collections in Australia and overseas. During the 19th and 20th centuries, medical officers, anatomists, ethnologists, anthropologists, and pastoralists collected ancestors for ‘scientific’ research linked to explaining human biological differences. While others removed ancestors and objects for the purpose of trade or sale where they were frequently placed on display and exhibited as curiosities in collecting institutions.

It has long been recognised that repatriation requires a collaborative approach to support the best outcomes for First Nations people. OFTA work with all stakeholders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, other Australian Government agencies, Australian museums, state, territory and local governments, researchers and overseas governments, collecting institutions and private holders.

International Highlights

Over the last 30 years, the Australian Government has seen the return of 1,700 Ancestors from across nine countries back to Australia. The Australian Government maintains its commitment to securing the return of ancestors held overseas so they can be returned to their Traditional Custodians or held in safe care in Australia until their Traditional Custodians can be identified. OFTA work closely with them as they advise on the return of their ancestors, cultural protocols and any access and controls for associated material. The Traditional Custodians make all decisions regarding the final resting place of their ancestors.

OFTA are currently working with collecting institutions in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan and New Zealand to progress repatriations. OFTA also have a joint arrangement with France and are working closely with other countries to advocate for the return of ancestors.

Australian Government Policy on Indigenous Repatriation

The Australian Government Policy on Indigenous Repatriation was established in 2011. In 2016, it was updated to reflect the change in Department name.(Office for the Arts, 2019)

Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation

The Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation consists of members appointed by the Minister for the Arts. Members of the Committee advise community on policy and program issues related to the repatriation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestral remains (Ancestors) and secret sacred objects (objects) held domestically and overseas (Office for the Arts, no date). The website also includes a sheet on frequently asked questions and answers, specific to international repatriation (Office for the Arts, 2022), as well as a fact sheet relating to international repatriation (Office for the Arts, 2022).

National Resting Place (Ngurra)

On the 5^th on January, 2022, the Australian Government announced its commitment to establish a National Resting Place within a new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct in Canberra. Ngurra appears in many different Aboriginal languages around Australia and is a word for ‘home’, ‘camp’, ‘a place of belonging’, ‘a place of inclusion’ (2024). The Ngurra Precinct will be nationally significant in speaking to the central place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in Australia’s story (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2024). Two decades of consultation have identification have identified the need for a National Resting Place, to replace existing facilities in museums, which do not — in the view of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — provide culturally-appropriate facilities for caring for ancestral remains with limited provenance. Ngurra will serve as a National Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Centre with new expanded facilities for AIATSIS. The new facilities will house and care for Ancestors returning from overseas, acting as a resting place for those whose homes could not be identified (Office for the Arts, 2022). Ngurra will also act as a Culture and Knowledge Centre and a new branch of AIATSIS, who is leading the project. Ngurra will close the widely acknowledged gap among the existing institutions. The location chosen for the Ngurra Cultural Precinct sits on Country that is home to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people who have lived for thousands of years amid a landscape of limestone plains, mountains, swamps, and streams. Sitting in the heart of the nation’s capital the site is located on one of the major axes of Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Canberra between Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial and will complement the existing institutions that are located within the National Triangle. To find out more about the project, please visit the AIATSIS website at Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct | AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2024).