The story of seventeen Tasmanians: the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and repatriation from the Natural History Museum

Abstract

[Extract] The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) has been involved in a legal battle with the Natural History Museum in London in regard to possession of the remains of 17 Tasmanian Aborigines which the Museum has had in its possession since the 19th Century. While the Museum has recently agreed to repatriate the remains, it still seeks to DNA test some samples taken from the remains. For present day Tasmanian Aborigines, this is viewed as representing a degrading violation of Aboriginal cultural and spiritual beliefs. The TAC is therefore maintaining its stance to try and prevent the tests taking place. This has created opposition from even within the Aboriginal community, with some claiming that the money spent on this battle could be better spent on other needs of the Aboriginal community.