LESSON 2.12 Inquiry: Should we return ancestral remains from museums? LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to research, record and present information demonstrating your understanding of an issue of importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ history and culture. Museums help to protect and keep safe the history and culture of ancient Australia. The National Museum of Australia holds collections of artefacts from Deep Time to today. Unfortunately, the sacred and cultural importance of these museum artefacts has not always been respected. Museum collections of human remains and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artefacts are part of a ‘living culture’, and so they continue to have deep ceremonial and spiritual value. Archaeologists have excavated burial sites and taken human remains for study. The disturbance of graves and the theft of ancestral human remains has caused deep sorrow and anger. While some progress has been made in returning remains, such as Mungo III, the process is slow and not always respectful of the rights and responsibilities of the traditional custodians. In recent decades, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have increasingly called for the return of the ancestral remains and sacred objects that are held in museums. Your task is to conduct a small group investigation into a campaign for the return of ancestral remains from museums. Before you begin Access the Inquiry rubric in the digital documents section of the Resources panel to guide you in completing this task at your level. At the end of the inquiry task, you can use this rubric to self-assess. Inquiry steps Step 1 Questioning and researching • Discuss the reasons why you think ancestral remains should be returned to the traditional custodians. • Identify museums that currently hold Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ancestral remains. • Identify traditional custodians or communities seeking the return of ancestral remains and artefacts. • Research a case study, such as Mungo III’s return from the Australian National University, to identify the key events and steps taken in the successful return of ancestral remains. Step 2 Consulting and recording • Contact an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representative to develop your understanding of the importance of ancestral remains to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Question the role community/Elders believe museums and archaeologists should have in the study and care of artefacts. • Contact a museum to identify the problems associated with the return of ancestral remains and artefacts, and the continuing role the museum has in the study and care of artefacts. • Record your interviews. Step 3 Designing your campaign After researching and discussing your findings, begin designing a campaign in support of the return of ancestral remains. Your campaign could involve: • Education: Design materials such as pamphlets and posters explaining the importance of ancestral remains to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
66 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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