Visit from Torres Strait Islands delegation, May 6th 2011
Mr Seri Stephen: Ugar (Stephen) Island, Chair of the Registered Native Title Body Corporate, Chair of the Torres Strait Repatriation Working Group that conducted community consultation across the TSI
Mr Ned David: Iama (Yam) Island, Chair of the Prescribed Body Corporate for Native Title of the central Torres Strait Islands, Co-chair of the Torres Strait Repatriation Working Group
Ms Stacey Campton (Assistant Secretary,Indigenous Culture Branch, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and theArts (DEWHA))
Australian High Commission: Alessandra Pretto (Executive Officer, Political Branch)
BM: Andrew Burnett, JD Hill, Natasha McKinney
The meeting was requested by David Blair (AssistantDirector, International Repatriation Branch, Department of Families, Housing,Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) in Canberra (not in attendance). Alessandra Pretto was then invited by the BM to join the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Torres Strait Islands human remains collections at the BM, and to clarify which items would be part of a planned repatriation claim.
The meeting began with a prayer at the request of Mr David and Mr Stephen, before moving on to the discussion of the Torres Strait Islands human remains in the BM’s collection. These include:
Oc,89+.96, decorated human skull of Magau from Nagir, collected by Alfred Cort Haddon (marine biologist, anthropologist) in 1888
Oc,89+.97, decorated human skull, decorated human skull from Mer, collected by Haddon in 1889
These were confirmed as remains the delegation would definitely claim.
Oc,89+.182, dugong charm with fibulae, Moa, collected by Haddon in 1888
Oc,+.2489, full length crocodile mask with human jawbones inside, Mabuiag, collected by Rev Samuel Macfarlane (missionary) in the 1870s
Following discussion around the distinction made between human remains, and objects with a human component, the delegation readily concluded they would not claim these remains.
Oc.6529, human jaw armlet from Bristow Island, collected by Lt Robert Henry Armit (surveyor) in the 1860s
This was dismissed because Bristow Island is not politically part of the Torres Strait Islands.
Oc1980,Q.112 was also discussed as it had previously been noted by the High Commission as an object of interest. It is a human jawbone rattle associated with the missionary Macfarlane, and is more likely to be from Papua New Guinea.
The delegation confirmed they had no interest in this object.
Having agreed that the two skulls from Nagir and Mer would be the remains requested for repatriation, there was discussion around the details of these remains, their identity and collection history, which the delegation were not familiar with. Mention was made that the museum’s physical anthropologist, Daniel Antoine, has examined the remains, and that his comments have added further details towards better documentation of the remains– particularly as Haddon does not explicitly record collection of the Mer skull, whereas the Nagir skull is of a named individual, Magau.
Discussion then turned to the process of submitting a claim. It was explained that it is the museum’s trustees who make the decision, based on information provided to them by the claimants, curators, and independent scholars commissioned to write reports on the cultural and scientific importance of the remains. It was noted that the delegation may wish to make suggestions or comments in relation to the person selected to write the report on the former. The delegation asked if it would be possible to present directly to the trustees. AB responded that the trustees may be open to this, and that this would be checked. The museum’s human remains policy was provided again, and it was noted that the trustees would focus on issues around mortuary disposal methods as they related to these remains.
AB enquired about the plans for any repatriated remains. Ned David explained that reburial was likely, and that in any case the decision of the elders was paramount. Mr David spoke enthusiastically about their ongoing engagement with the Natural History Museum in relation to the 138 remains the NHM have decided to repatriate. Following visits by staff to the islands, the NHM have proposed a research partnership involving ongoing access to the remains at an appropriate repository in the islands. Mr David suggested that the BM could follow suit, and that a visit from a BM staff member would be welcome.
AB explained that all material relating to a claim as it progresses is placed on the museum’s website – in this way all interested parties are able to see the way in which claims are managed. Concern was expressed by the delegation that some information they may wish to provide as part of making their case should remain private. They were assured that due attention would be given to these considerations before publishing material on the web.
It was agreed that NM would collate the museum documentation for the two skulls, to be forwarded to the delegation as soon as possible, in order that they may prepare the claim in time for the next Trustees meeting on June 30th. It was noted that the claim would need to be received by the end of May.
The delegation then kindly stayed on to discuss a planned display of a Torres Strait Islands mask, Oc,89+.73, from Iama, and collected by Haddon in 1888. The maker/giver of the mask was the chief Maino, the great grandfather of both Mr David and Mr Stephen. They were very pleased and interested that the mask was going on display, and it was agreed that contact would be maintained on these matters also.
The group departed to travel to Cambridge for a meeting at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Natasha McKinney, 12.6.11