BBC News NI Education and Arts Correspondent Robbie Meredith reports that National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) has announced plans to repatriate additional human remains to Hawaii. This decision comes after NMNI had previously repatriated human remains and sacred objects to Hawaii in 2022, following the identification of items stolen from other countries or linked to the slave trade in their collections.
During the search for items to be returned, NMNI has discovered three ancestral human remains (iwi kūpuna) that were taken from Hawaii in 1840. The museum has pledged to return these remains to their source community in Hawaii, continuing their commitment to addressing historical injustices and implementing the decolonisation of collections.
Kamakana Ferreira from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs expressed gratitude for NMNI’s efforts in locating and returning their ancestors. He mentioned that they are “elated” about the discovery of the previously missing iwi kūpuna and look forward to the repatriation process, scheduled to take place in late April.
William Blair, Director of Collections at NMNI, highlighted the museum’s dedication to correcting past wrongs and building positive relationships through repatriation efforts. He emphasized the importance of learning from partners like the OHA to undertake this essential work, acknowledging the challenges but also the rewarding nature of the process. Blair stated that NMNI aims to continue working towards repatriation and decolonisation in collaboration with source communities
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