Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna elder Major Moogy Sumner has returned to South Australia with the remains of two South Australian Aboriginal ancestors that were previously held by the Smithsonian Museum in the United States.

Major Sumner conducted a smoking ceremony at the handover at the Smithsonian Institute last week.

The ancestors returned are from the Narungga and Kaurna communities in South Australia.

‘The repatriation of our Old People back to Country is crucial for our First Nations Peoples’ healing process to take place, and only when our Ancestors are returned to Country, will this healing process commence,’ says Doug Milera, of the Narungga Nation.

‘It is important for institutions to recognise the significance of returning the ancestors back to Country. The repatriation process allows us to reconcile the past wrongs and make things right for our ancestors,” says Allan Sumner, of the Kaurna Nation.

The remaining ancestors have been returned under the stewardship of the Australian Government, which will arrange for their safekeeping until their traditional custodians are determined.

More than 125 ancestors have now been returned to Australia from the USA.

A further repatriation from the Smithsonian Institute will be undertaken at a later date to return to Australia 23 remaining ancestors held in its care.

While further research needs to be done, six of these ancestors have provenance to the Torres Strait Islands and six ancestors have provenance to South Australia. The remaining 11 ancestors have provenance elsewhere in Australia.