Kohima, Oct 12: The Nagaland government and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) have discussed the strategy and arrangements for repatriating 39 Naga ancestral human remains currently held at the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.
The meeting was led by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton and attended by Minister for Roads and Bridges G. Kaito Aye, Principal Secretary Abhijit Sinha, IAS, Special Secretary (Home) Limasunep, IPS, and representatives of the FNR.
In a statement shared on X, Patton said the meeting focused on the proposed return of the ancestral remains and the way forward for facilitating their repatriation.
“We had a meaningful discussion on the proposed return of the 39 ancestral human remains and deliberated on the way forward to facilitate their repatriation with due respect, dignity and sensitivity,” Patton said.
He also acknowledged the FNR’s long-standing efforts to lead the initiative.
The discussions are aimed at establishing the necessary protocols, logistical arrangements and ceremonial procedures to ensure the remains are returned and received with dignity and respect.
The proposed repatriation follows years of efforts by Naga communities to reclaim ancestral human remains taken during British colonial rule and held in overseas collections.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, British administrators and anthropologists collected Naga ancestral remains and cultural materials. Many of these collections were subsequently housed in museums and other institutions in Britain, including the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.
In 2020, the FNR established the Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team to research and document ancestral remains and facilitate community-led dialogue on their return.
The initiative gained momentum through consultations and engagement with the University of Oxford. A Naga delegation visited Oxford in June 2025, following which the university approved the return of 39 ancestral remains to the Naga people.
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