Australian museums prioritize return of Pacific ancestral remains

Institutions face calls to repatriate hundreds of body parts

Pasifika Gallery Melissa Malu by JamesAlcock  2A2A3881 SMALL.jpg

Melissa Malu, manager of the Australian Museum’s Pasifika collection, said the process of repatriating ancestral remains should focus on empowering Pacific peoples and restoring their autonomy. (© James Alcock/Australian Museum)

SOPHIE MAK, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- In January, the remains of two Tongan men, previously held in the Australian Museum's collection in Sydney, were finally laid to rest in their homeland. Unlike a typical funeral, the atmosphere was one of "joy and happiness," according to Melissa Malu, who manages the museum's Pasifika collection -- a term referring to the diverse people and cultures of the South Pacific region.

During the ceremony, the Tongan royal family honored the unidentified men by bestowing them with names with symbolic meaning, while local church choirs and brass bands filled the air with music. Malu, who has Tongan and Fijian heritage, said it brought the community a sense of closure. "It was a healing occasion for the people of Tonga," she told Nikkei Asia. "They felt their story was recognized."

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