DIMAPUR, June 9: A Naga delegation is currently visiting the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) at the University of Oxford for a week-long engagement from June 8 to June 14, focused on the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains held by the museum.

The historic visit, announced in a press release by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) on Sunday, marks a significant step toward addressing the legacy of colonialism and fostering healing among the Naga people.

The delegation includes representatives from various Naga tribe hohos, members of the FNR, and the Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team. Their objective is to strengthen the ongoing process of identifying, claiming, and eventually recovering approximately 219 Naga ancestral remains currently held by the PRM, which houses the largest collection of Naga artifacts worldwide.

Since November 2020, the FNR has facilitated discussions within Naga communities to secure consent, participation, and active support for the repatriation effort, particularly from the tribe hohos. To aid this process, the FNR established the RRaD team, which conducts “participatory action research with Naga communities,” raises public awareness, and builds connections with other Indigenous nations engaged in recovering ancestral remains globally.

This visit is a pivotal moment in Naga history, as it is the first time the PRM has hosted a Naga delegation with direct access to their ancestral human remains.

“The delegation looks forward to collaborating with museum staff through dialogue, co-learning, and discussing how the museum cares for ancestors, as well as closely examining the return process and the way forward,” the press release stated.

Throughout the visit, the Naga delegation is committed to ensuring that the repatriation process is a Naga-led dialogue, exploring pathways for the return and future care of Naga ancestral human remains.

The FNR emphasized the importance of the Naga people rewriting and retelling their own stories by focusing on social justice and decolonisation, aiming to heal from the burdens of a violent colonial past.

The organization appealed to the Naga community for their support and solidarity, urging active contribution to a dynamic and robust repatriation process.