RECOVER RESTORE AND DECOLONISE

Konyak Union Commits in Principle to Support Repatriation Initiative

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To cooperate in any way possible to repatriate the remains of ancestors 

The Konyak Union (KU) today said that it supports the initiative of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and Recover Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team to repatriate Naga ancestral remains from the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University.

This was expressed as the office bearers of the Konyak Union (KU) met a delegation of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and Recover Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team in Mon town on June 2.

In an official welcome address at the KU headquarters in Mon Town, KU President Tingthok Konyak and Vice President HA Hongnao welcomed the FNR and RRaD team comprising of Dr Reverend Ellen C Jamir, Dr Dolly Kikon, Manngai Nemdakly, and Kuvethilu Theluo.

The KU reiterated the importance of the repatriation process, with the union’s President noting that the KU had earlier sent an official letter to the FNR with a desire to learn about the repatriation initiative. The KU expressed happiness that the FNR and RRaD team accepted the queries and decided to visit them to “initiate a dialogue on decolonization, healing, and repatriation.”

The KU, it stated, is committed to support the Ancestral Naga remains initiative undertaken by the FNR with the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University and cooperate in any way possible to repatriate the remains of their respective ancestors. Considered as a historic event that requires Naga people to work towards unity, the KU President called upon the Naga researchers to focus on the historical relevance and importance of the repatriation process.

The KU Vice President meanwhile noted that the larger community heard about the Pitt Rivers Museum after the repatriation initiative started. He stated that the KU believes this is an important process but it is pertinent that all matters related to artefacts, whether human remains or cultural artefacts, are respectfully handled.

He meanwhile expressed dismay that a Konyak heritage handmade gun he had donated to the Kohima State Museum “went missing and cannot be traced till date.” He called upon the community and the state organs to “respect the process” and noted that such unfortunate incidents should not happen with any artefacts repatriated to the Naga homeland.

First published in The Morung Express on 2nd June 2023
Link: https://www.morungexpress.com/konyak-union-commits-in-principle-to-support-repatriation-initiative

About the Author

  • RRaD Nagaland

    RRaD (Recover, Restore and Decolonise) was formed in 2021 to facilitate and engage with issues around the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains to the Naga homeland. In 2020, the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) in Oxford, UK, reached out to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) to help facilitate community dialogue regarding the “future care and return” of Naga ancestral human remains.

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About the Author

  • RRaD Nagaland

    RRaD (Recover, Restore and Decolonise) was formed in 2021 to facilitate and engage with issues around the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains to the Naga homeland. In 2020, the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) in Oxford, UK, reached out to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) to help facilitate community dialogue regarding the “future care and return” of Naga ancestral human remains.

    View all posts

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The purpose of this website is to create widespread awareness about the process of repatriation and the profound impact of colonization on Naga people. Please be warned that some of the information shared here may be distressing as they reference a problematic part of history when our ancestors were referred to as ‘savages’ and ‘inferior.’ There will also be stories of our ancestors who have passed away and their remains which were taken, researched on and displayed without consent by colonizers. We request that you take the information shared here with the gravity it deserves, and we believe that you will honour our guidelines of responsible use. 

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