FNR-led Naga delegation begins repatriation talks at Pitt Rivers Museum

A Naga delegation is on a visit to the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) in Oxford from June 8 to June 14, to strengthen efforts for repatriating Naga ancestral remains stated Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). The group included tribal leaders, elders, and members of the FNR and Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team, which engaged in a week-long dialogue and learning experience.
According to FNR, the Naga delegation’s historic visit marks the first time the PRM, home to the world’s largest Naga collection, hosts Naga representatives with access to ancestral remains. The aim of the visit was to collaborate with museum staff, engage in dialogue, and explore the return process and future steps.
Further FNR said that since November 2020, it has played a key role in promoting healing and reconciliation by engaging Naga tribes in the process through consent and active participation. It said the RRaD team conducts participatory research, raising awareness and strengthening connections with other Indigenous nations worldwide to support the recovery of Naga ancestral remains.
Altogether, around 219 Naga ancestral human remains were under the care of the PRM.
FNR called for Naga support and solidarity, emphasizing a dynamic, inclusive pathway to repatriation. For an open to dialogue, the FNR extended invitation and suggestions and constructive criticism, aiming to contribute meaningfully to international efforts while ensuring the Naga response remains distinct, relatable, and interactive.