Colonial Repatriations – implications for humans on display

A recent article in the Guardian focusing on respect for human remains brought to Britain under colonialism has implications for equally humane treatment of all the dead, including those of Britain.

The All Party Parliamentary Committee report ‘Laying Ancestors to Rest‘ includes a recommendation to ‘map the collections of ancestral remains in the UK’s national museums’ – something that HAD has already done through our long running Your Local Museum project as part of our Open Heritage Map.

The report also calls for ‘a public consultation on the proposal to collectively bury and memorialise orphaned ancestors in the UK’ – something that surely should encompass ancient British ancestors, who with no familial representation must be also ‘orphaned’.

HAD is keen to follow up with MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy and the authors of this important report to explore areas of synergy.

With regard to display, Ribeiro-Addy says: “Putting human remains on display is unethical, especially when no consent has been given,” she added. “I think removing the display of these items ultimately changes the culture, goes some way to look at them with some form of respect.” This is a powerful comment. She doesn’t speak of human remains from other cultures. Her words embrace all people, even those of our this landscape. If our museums were to stop putting the dead on display, there would be a change in terms of attitude and respect.

It is crucial to understand that this thought cannot just be about repatriation.  The restoration of ancestors to their lands of origin cannot be a political act about ownership of the ‘material’, because that confirms the offensive notion of ownership.  This thought is about respecting the deceased as individual human beings.  In which case, the same degree of respect must be conferred to ancestors of British culture.  To remove the dead from display must include those of British origin too.