F1: Ko ngā wero: Barriers to Domestic and International Repatriation
Tracks
1
| Tuesday, December 1, 2026 |
| 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
| RHLT1 |
Overview
Stream: Museums, Collections, Returns and Repatriation
Paper / Session Submitter
Dr Holly Cusack-McVeigh
Professor Of Anthropology And Museum Studies
Indiana University Indianapolis IUI
Ko ngā wero: Barriers to Domestic and International Repatriation
Summary Abstract
This session explores the barriers and complexities of domestic and international repatriation. The authors will present various case studies through museological, academic, and indigenous perspectives, drawing on a diverse range of expertise. One will explore the importance of repatriation from Māori and Moriori perspectives, showing how their values and cultural frameworks underpin the return of ancestral remains from international institutions. Following that we dive into the complex history of museum chemical treatments, highlighting how these practices create significant health risks, its impact on the repatriation of ancestors and connection to their cultural belonging. A third presentation shifts the focus from structural barriers to the challenges created by gaps in provenance records, and a solutions-based approach of collaborative efforts in research. The final presentation offers a rangatahi (youth) perspective, envisioning a future where restitution finally reaches the shores, guided by the aspirations of returning our tūpuna and karāpuna home.
Biographies
Te Herekiekie is the head of repatriaiton at Te Papa, and is tasked with managing the repatriation of Māori and Moriori ancestral remains housed in international institutions. Since 2007 Te Herekiekie has ensured the safe return of over 600 Māori and Moriori ancestral remains.
Holly is a Professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies at Indiana University, a Public Scholar of Collections and Community-Curation and Professor of Native American and Indigenous studies. She has worked in the cultural heritage field for decades in partnership with tribes, government agencies, and museums to address issues grounded in social justice.
Susan is an archaeologist with an interest in understanding cultural landscapes and bringing oral traditions into archaeological praxis. She joined the repatriation team at Te Papa in 2004 but stepped away for a decade to live on Rēkohu. She is back with the team, focussing on provenance research.
Dr Lorraine Eade (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toarangatira), has over 30 years experience in Iwi Māori strategy, policy, planning and operations. This has included the Manager of Ngāti Rārua Iwi Trust, Kaitakawaenga and Senior Advisor roles witnin Te Puni Kōkiri, Project Manager/Portfolio Managers within two District Health Boards, Marlborough Children's Team Director Ministry of Social Development and Oranga Tamariki, Westpac South Island Business Manager (Māori), Pou Rauemi of Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable Trust.
Most recently Lorraine has had the privilege of operationalising Tokomaru Research Centre, one of the very few solely owned iwi research companies in Aotearoa.
Lorraine has a passion for researching tribal histories, climate change and natural disasters. The presentation for ACHS will share the learnings from a deaccession of taonga from an international museum after 113 years.
