CICP Aboriginal Ethics Committee slammed the Australian Government’s consultation plans to acquire a national Aboriginal representative view to place unprovenanced Aboriginal human remains in a National Keeping Place, saying it is grossly impartial, extremely deficient in scope and delivery and culturally unsound, ignoring Aboriginal Cultural Protocols.

Aboriginal Elder and repatriation expert Mr Bob Weatherall backed the CICP Aboriginal Ethics Committee findings that the consultation plan is seriously flawed and would be extremely insulting to Aboriginal elders.

Bob Weatherall, Chair of the Centre for Indigenous Cultural Policy (CICP), said it was incumbent on Minister Tony Burke to immediately intervene and suspend the consultation planned by his Indigenous Repatriation Unit, to commence tomorrow in Brisbane and engage an independent organisation to undertake an impartial, inclusive and culturally-appropriate process of consultation that can obtain a truly representative view on the issue of unprovenanced ancestral human remains.

He added “the Australian Government’s Advisory Committee for Indigenous

Repatriation (ACIR) had identified the establishment of a Keeping Place for unprovenanced remains as their “key priority”. This is a grave mistake. As the ACIR is comprised of individuals nominated by museums and appointed by the Minister, not representing any collective or organisation, they have no legitimacy to make any decisions. Decision making rests legally and exclusively with the collective custodians, the ‘next of kin’ and cannot be made without their free prior and informed consent.”

“They are meddling with the Rights/Rites of our Dead and our inherent

customary obligations to finally lay them to rest in the Land (Our Mother) and not hinder their journey to the spirit world – something they have been deprived of for 200 years,” Mr Weatherall said.

“These old people are family and community members of today’s living relatives: great grandmothers and grandfathers, only one or two generations past; the First Stolen Generation. Still today they are kept in cardboard boxes, plastic bags, drawers, cupboards and vaults. They deserve to be treated with dignity and a maximum of respect and sensitivity,” he concluded.

June 17, 2013 MEDIA RELEASE

Centre for Indigenous Cultural Policy

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Kamilaroi Elder and repatriation expert Bob Weatherall (ABOVE) says the Australian Government’s consultation plan is seriously flawed.

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