- DIMAPUR — A
delegation of Naga tribal hohos was hosted at the House of Lords in London on
June 11, as part of an ongoing initiative to repatriate ancestral human remains
held in the United Kingdom.
- The delegation met with Rt Hon. the Lord Boateng of Akyem
and Wembley, a member of the British House of Lords, who expressed solidarity
with Indigenous communities seeking the repatriation of ancestral human
remains.
Naga leaders and elders with Lord Boateng at the House of
Lords, London on June 11.
- According to a press release issued on Friday, the visit
comes in the wake of global outrage in October 2024 over a proposed sale of
human remains—including those of Naga origin—by an Oxfordshire auction house.
Lord Boateng, along with Baroness Black of Strome, was instrumental in
initiating a parliamentary debate in response to the auction and helped prevent
the sale and display of human body parts.
- “No human remains should be treated as possessions,
curiosity, or for profit. It is morally wrong and offensive,” Lord Boateng told
the Naga delegation during their meeting.
- The Naga leaders are currently in the UK to work with the
Pitt Rivers Museum on repatriating ancestral remains held in its collections.
During the meeting, they expressed gratitude to Lord Boateng for his continued
advocacy for legislative changes that address the historical and ethical issues
surrounding the dehumanising sale of human remains.
Also read: Naga delegation visits Pitt Rivers Museum to discuss repatriation of ancestral remains
- Reflecting on his Ghanaian heritage, Lord Boateng drew a
parallel between India and Ghana’s shared colonial history, noting that both
nations experienced similar forms of oppression under British colonial rule. He
said that the arc of independence for India and Ghana became foundational for
the broader pursuit of freedom and justice among former colonies.
- ‘Parliament was the site, on the one hand, where Indigenous
lands were taken. On the other hand, Parliament was also the site where acts of
independence were signed,’ he remarked. While there is freedom now in most
former colonies, they are yet to experience justice, he added.
- Lord Boateng also presented to the Naga delegation an official
copy of the Parliamentary debate proceedings held in the House of Lords, which
focused on the sale and display of human body parts in the United Kingdom and
how to find a legal resolution to criminalise any ongoing practice of
displaying the remains.
- “I salute your struggles to give voice to all Indigenous
Peoples because this process represents the Indigenous peoples of the world. We
are one people and all of us are deserving of respect,” he told the Naga
delegation.
- Speaking on behalf of the Naga leaders, Thejao Vihienuo,
President of the Angami Public Organisation, thanked Lord Boateng for his
solidarity. He stressed that the visit to the UK is rooted in a desire to
redress historical injustices committed during the colonial period during which
the ancestors’ remains were taken.
- Each of the tribal leaders stressed the urgency of
repatriating the ancestral remains to the Naga homeland.
- “There are many ancestors belonging to our people, and the
spirits will not find rest and peace until we bring them home,” said Ngongba
Tange Thamlong Phom, Vice President of the Phom Peoples’ Organisation.
- Konyak Union representative Rev. Aching Peihwang Wangsa also
spoke of the importance of making the journey to witness remains that were
taken away generations ago.
- Meanwhile, Dr. P Ngully, an elder from the Forum for Naga
Reconciliation, described the delegation’s mission as one of spiritual
reconciliation and healing. “We have been called to this place by our ancestors
who were cared for by the Pitt Rivers Museum,” he said.
- “We are here to reconcile and bring healing not only to the
Naga lands, but to humanity,” he said, emphasising the importance of spiritual
connections amongst different peoples, which is strongly based on the
Indigenous beliefs of the Nagas.
