International repatriation insurance covers for emergency evacuation and repatriation of human remains back home.
1,000 – This is the estimated number for Aboriginal remains that are believed to be held around the world in museums. Most of which are found in the United Kingdom, Germany, USA and France. Though aboriginal experts claim the figure could be ten times higher.
1,150 – This is the number of remains (indigenous) repatriated since 1990 to Australia.
10,000 – This is the total number of remains that are held in museums in Australia.
Aboriginal remains were removed from burial sites, asylums, prisons, hospitals and graves in the 19th century until the 1940s. Some of the remains were claimed to be kangaroo bones and illegally exported. Some were taken to the USA, Austria, France, Scotland, Holland, Sweden, Germany, England, Ireland, Italy and the Czech Republic.
The remains largest collection that has been confirmed is held at the Natural History Museum in Britain composing of a dried head, 20 skeletons, of which five have addresses and names from Tasmania and Australia, and 124 skulls. Edinburg University Anatomy Museums’ Professor Matt Kaufman is believed to have one of the largest collections of the remains. Though he is very secretive of the collection, the estimates range from 6-10 complete skeletons, some say several hundreds. It is sad for one not to be able to pay respects to family members or visit their graves because they are held in some laboratory in a university that’s tens of thousands miles away.
The Aboriginal people hold the belief that the spirits of those whose remains are abroad and not back home, cannot be at rest. Aboriginal elders have said that since the remains of their people are not home, then their spirits are wandering and unless and until they are repatriated back home, their spirits will not rest. Modern day international repatriation insurance works to ease financial burdens and also rest the hearts of the bereaved.