The Government has welcomed the return of 11 First Nations ancestors from two collecting institutions in the United Kingdom.

A First Nations ceremonial wooden bowl sits on a table surrounded by eucalyptus leaves.

At a special ceremony hosted in Oxford, United Kingdom, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History returned six ancestors, with three returning to their respective Traditional Custodians and three ancestors returned under Australian Government stewardship.

At the same ceremony the Pitt Rivers Museum returned two ancestors to their Traditional Custodians and three ancestors returned under Australian Government stewardship.

The Government will ensure the care and dignity of the six ancestors under its stewardship, while they are cared for closer to home.

Representatives of the University, Government and Community attended the ceremony, including Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation, Ngarrindjeri Community and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

The latest repatriation means that over 1,290 ancestors have been returned from the United Kingdom to Australia over the past 30 years.

The Australian Government is committed to securing the return of ancestors held overseas to their rightful homes.

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