The Meanings and Values of Repatriation: a Multidisciplinary Conference.

Call for papers and Suggestions for Panels

Venue: National Museum of Australia; Centre for Cross-cultural Research,
Australian National University, Canberra
Dates:  8 - 10 July 2005

For many years indigenous peoples in various parts of the world have sought
the return of ancestral human remains and artefacts of great cultural
significance from western museums and scientific institutions. Especially
since the late 1970s indigenous demands for the repatriation of remains and
artefacts, combined with changing perceptions of the function of the museum
have led museum workers and researchers to re-evaluate the worth of keeping
these things.

Things have changed greatly since 1989, when the World Archaeological
Congress adopted the Vermillion Accord, in an effort to see the fate of
human remains reached by negotiation on the basis of mutual respect for the
legitimate concerns of communities for the proper disposition of their
ancestors, as well as the legitimate concerns of science and education. New
partnerships have been established between cultural and scientific
institutions and indigenous communities. Human remains and culturally
significant objects have been returned to the care of indigenous
communities, although the fate of bones and artefacts in a numerous
collections remains unresolved and, in some instances, the subject of
controversy.

It seems timely to take stock of what has occurred since the Vermillion
Accord by a conference that hears from museum personnel and researchers who
have been involved in repatriation, and from indigenous community
representatives and knowledge custodians charged with the responsibility of
reclaiming remains and culturally significant items. We need to ask what
have been the benefits of repatriation? What have been the problems? And
have the concerns of indigenous people, scientists and educators been
equally well met?

Further, looking back over the past two decades, a noticeable feature of
repatriation has been that it has seen much debate and interaction between
indigenous people and researchers in disciplines with direct interests in
the continued scientific preservation of human remains. Yet, it has become
clear that repatriation is a complex phenomenon with cultural, historical
and ethical dimensions that we would do well to explore.

  We are therefore also keen to have papers and suggests of panels from
specialists in other disciplines such as history, philosophy, law, and
cultural studies who are exploring the meanings, values and uses of bodily
remains, sacred places and things.
The conference will be held over three days at the National Museum of
Australia and the Centre for Cross-cultural Research, 8-10 July 2005. Full
registration is anticipated as being in the vicinity of $A350 with students
concessions.

Courtesy of H-Net, Humanities and Social Sciences Online, a Listserv
discussion list is being established to provide updates and news for
potential participants and researchers working on aspects of repatriation.

A dedicated website will be online by the end of this year.
Offers of papers, suggestions for panels and other expressions of interest
should be sent before 31 January 2005 to the Organizing Committee, care of
Paul Turnbull, [log in to unmask]

Principal Conveners:    Dr Mike Pickering, Head, Repatriation Section,
National Museum of Australia
                                        Professor Paul Turnbull, School of Arts, Media and Culture, Griffith
University

--
Claire Smith
President, World Archaeological Congress
Department of Archaeology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA.
5001.  Australia
Ph: 61 (0)8 8201 2336
Fax: 61 (0)8 8201 3845

Till July, 2005
Department of Anthropology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New
York, NY 10027
Room 964, Schermerhorn Extension
Ph: 1 212 854 7465
Fax: 1 212 854 7347

<http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org>



Dr Susan Piddock

Research Assistant
Department of Archaeology
Flinders University,
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide, 5001
South Australia

Email alternative: [log in to unmask]
Fax:            +61 8 82013845

Vice President - Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Treasurer, SA Chapter Australian Association of Consulting Archaeology

Visit the Department of Archaeology website at:
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology


See the Hills Face Zone Cultural Heritage Project website:
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/hfzchp/index.html