Cultural Heritage Repatriation

KALACC is involved in the repatriation of historical materials, sacred and significant objects and human remains to the region. KALACC has being tasked with the management of repatriated remains in the Kimberley Region. KALACC’s continued work with communities and stakeholders in relation to repatriation has lead to the development of the repatriation plan “The return of human remains from the KALACC Keeping Place back to Country”. In 2009 KALACC was involved in the repatriation of Australian Indigenous human remains from Austria. This involved a formal ceremony at Vienna’s Natural History Museum, where the remains were officially handed over. In 2004 and 2008 items were repatriated from the Swedish Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, Sweden.

In June 2001 KALACC Executive and staff were involved in the repatriation of human remains and artifacts from the Mcleay Museum in Sydney. This was the culmination of three years of negotiations and the museums' cooperation and support must be acknowledged. KALACC has also returned objects to the Bardi region and Western Desert and are continuing discussions with other museums and collections.