In a historic and deeply symbolic journey, a Naga delegation consisting of senior tribal leaders, representatives from tribal apex bodies (Hohos), the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and the Recover, Restore, and Decolonise (RRaD) initiative concluded a week-long series of engagements in the United Kingdom on June 13, focusing on the repatriation of ancestral human remains and cultural belongings from British museums.

The delegation held crucial meetings with curators and staff from prominent institutions including the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University, the British Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge, Manchester Museum, the Horniman Museum, and Bristol Museum. These meetings revealed the extent of collections taken during the colonial era from Naga ancestral lands, some of which include human remains and other sacred cultural items.

At the British Museum, Dr Alexandra Green, curator of the Museum informed the Naga delegation that a significant amount of material from Myanmar/Burma may be of importance to the Nagas, but much of the existing collection was obtained from the erstwhile province of Assam.

She said that the digitisation process will be over soon, and almost all the materials will be accessible on their website. She went on to say that one Naga human remains had been taken off display.

At the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University, Dr Mark Elliot, senior curator that 725 items from their collection belonged to various Naga communities including the Angami, Ao, Konyak, and Khiamniungan. He noted that only a small percentage of these items are publicly exhibited, with the majority undergoing digitisation.

According to a press release issued by Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), at the Manchester Museum, Georgina Young, Head of Exhibitions and Collections, along with South Asia Gallery Curator Nusrat Ahmed, stated that the museum housed 12 Naga human remains, 11 of which originated from the Konyak region. Donated by colonial administrator James P. Mills, these remains were removed from public display following a Board resolution in 1994. The curators explained their current approach of co-creating narratives with local South Asian communities to ensure ethical representation.

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Representatives from the Horniman Museum in London, Navjot Mangat and Heba Abd El Gawad, explained that they had stopped using the word “objects” and had begun to use “belongings” to refer to the material that was forcibly taken from communities during colonial rule. They said that they have more than 400 belongings, including pipes and shawls, most of which were obtained as gifts from British army officers stationed in the Naga homelands during colonial times. They still have two human remains that had been taken off display. They said they would like to work with the Naga community to ensure that there could be an ethical process to repatriate human remains and belongings.

Lisa Graves, the curator of the Bristol Museum, mentioned their possession of over 200 Naga-related items and one trophy head, which has also been removed from display.

A lot of their material from Myanmar had been labelled as belonging to the Chin, but it is possible that they were mislabelled, she said.

The engagement culminated in a public event at the Lecture Hall of the Museum of Natural History, Oxford University, initiated by Prof. Arkotong Longkumer. Following a minute of silence for the victims of the Ahmedabad air disaster, Kumsang Bendangtoshi of the Presidential Council and Tongor Luden from Ao Senden conducted a dedication ceremony honouring Naga ancestors and spirits.

Dr Laura van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum, hailed the week-long dialogues as a milestone in shifting museum practices from preservation care to cultural care, especially concerning human remains and cultural belongings.

Dr Visier Sanyü offered a traditional chant that alluded to the separation of the ancestors from the creator and prayed that the two could be reunited to heal the hurts of the past and present.

Thejao Vihienuo, President, Angami Public Organisation, read out The Naga Oxford Declaration on Repatriation that stated:

The declaration expressed gratitude to ancestors, acknowledged the delay in their return, and pledged a united Naga effort to repatriate them with dignity. It underscored the repatriation process as central to Naga healing and identity, and expressed solidarity with other Indigenous communities around the world. The declaration was signed by Thejao Vihienuo, President APO, Kumsang Bendangtoshi, Presidential Council Member, Tongor Luden Ao Senden, Talamong Khiamnuingan, Executive Chairman, Khianmuingam Tribal Council, A Peihwang Wangsa, Representative of the Konyak Union, Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom, Vice President, Phom Peoples Council, Dr Vihuto Asumi, President, Sumi Hoho, Jollyson Ronra Shimray, Vice President, Tangkhul Naga Long, and Dr P Ngullie on behalf of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation.

ThejaoVihienuo, President of Angami Public Organisation, presenting the Naga Oxford Declaration on Repatriation on behalf of the Naga Tribe Hohos to the Director of Pitt Rivers Museum.

After the declaration was read, all Naga attendees stood in solidarity and gave their assent. The signed document was handed to Dr Laura van Broekhoven on behalf of the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Dr Aküm Longchari reflected on global violence and fragmentation, asking the audience to reimagine the world through humanisation, just peace, and healing.

He stated, “…(there is a) need for us to imagine the interplay of Humanisation, JustPeace and Healing, as the embodied aspirations of the people, as a process to address the turbulence of the world today.” He emphasised that healing for the Nagas is central, particularly when addressing the historical trauma passed down from one generation to another. He called on Oxford University to move from its colonial legacy and become a place for healing and justice across cultures, with the PRM as the fulcru

Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom delivered an ancestral invocation in his mother tongue, stressing the importance of a formal apology from the British government and assuring the ancestors of a committed effort to return them to their homelands. In his invocation, he also expressed gratitude to the staff of the Pitt Rivers Museum for their sensitivity and assistance in facilitating the repatriation process.

Rev Dr Ellen Konyak Jamir spoke on the evolution of the RRaD initiative concerning their involvement in the dialogue on repatriation. She informed the audience about the challenging circumstances that the team had to overcome in order to connect with grassroots and engage various stakeholders in the process.

Following her presentation, Dr Laura van Broekhoven released a new book titled Healing of the Lands: Reflections & Dialogues on the Naga Repatriation Journey. Dr Talilula Longchar, co-editor of the book with Dr Pangernungba Kechu, presented the first copy to van Broekhoven and provided the publication’s background.

In his closing remarks, Dr Vihuto Asumi recounted the pre-colonial sovereignty of the Naga people and acknowledged the benefits and grievances of colonial rule. “We lived as free, sovereign republics before the British, and we were never colonised,” he said.

Acknowledging some positive changes, such as the spread of Christianity and the introduction of education during the colonial period, he nevertheless reminded the audience of the unresolved grievances from that era.

He connected the ongoing work of repatriating the ancestors to the continued struggle for dignity, justice, and healing. He also asserted that the healing of the Naga nation is an integral part of the repatriation process and will aid in uniting the Nagas.

Professor Dolly Kikon concluded the event by emphasising the creation of a new truth through repatriation. Stating that she perceived the gathering as one filled with friends, mentors, and allies, Kikon said: “Through the repatriation process, we are creating a new truth and marching towards new promises of peace and a shared future.”

She urged the audience to commit to the journey towards new pedagogies that centre on co-learning, co-creation, and, for a change, listening to the Indigenous people shepherding the process.

“Colonisation was a project of division”, she said and thereafter concluded by asserting to let the Naga Repatriation process and all repatriation processes around the world to give dignity to ancestors to shine and be “a beacon of knowledge that aligns with humanity, humility, care, healing, courage, liberation, and inclusivity”.