More information

D Kaus, 'The management of restricted Aboriginal objects by the National Museum of Australia,' reCollections, 2008, vol. 3, no. 1, (forthcoming).

M Pickering, 'Where to from here? Repatriation of Indigenous human remains and "The Museum"', in SK Knell, S MacLeod and S Watson (eds), Museum Revolutions: How Museums Change and are Changed, Routledge, United Kingdom, 2007.

M Pickering, 'Policy and research issues affecting human remains in Australian museum collections', in J Lohman and K Goodnow (eds), Human Remains and Museum Practice, UNESCO Publishing/Museum of London, London, 2006.

M Pickering, 'Define success: repatriation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains and sacred objects', Museum National, February 2003, pp. 13-14.

M Pickering, 'Repatriation, rhetoric, and reality: The repatriation of Australian Indigenous human remains and sacred objects', Journal of the Australian Registrars Committee, June 2002, pp. 15-19, 40-41.

The National Museum of Australia is pleased to be able to present this essay on repatriation prepared by Eleanor Hanscombe, a Year 9 student at Camberwell Girls Grammar School in Melbourne.

Eleanor's essay, titled 'Righting rites: dealing with the dead', was judged the national winner of the Indigenous Australia special category in the 2008 National History Challenge.

The Challenge is an annual competition for school students organised by the History Teachers' Association of Australia and sponsored by the Commonwealth Government and several cultural institutions, such as the National Museum of Australia, as well as other not-for-profit organisations. The competition showcases excellence in student research and expression in a number of topic areas under the general banner of history including, the use of primary sources, museum displays, war and peace, and Asia and Australia.

Eleanor was awarded her prize, along with the other successful students, at a special awards ceremony at the Australian Parliament in Canberra on 25 November 2008.

The issue of repatriation is a complex and divisive one. After years of debate even museum professionals still heatedly disagree as to whether or not it should occur. To find a Year 9 student prepared to engage with the issue in such a mature and measured way is very impressive and to be welcomed.

> 'Righting rites: dealing with the dead' by Eleanor Hanscombe (PDF 31kb)

Repatriation Program Director
c/- Duty Curator
National Museum of Australia
GPO Box 1901
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Australia

Tel + 61 2 6208 5019
Email curator@nma.gov.au

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