After the 2022 repatriation, National Museums NI committed to continuing the search for three iwi kūpuna that could not be located at the time. Given the 19th-century context in which the iwi kūpuna were brought to Belfast, and the absence of professional collection management practices at the time, their whereabouts remained uncertain. In 2024, the three iwi kūpuna were located during a review of human remains in the National Museums NI collections, and OHA was notified. They have now been repatriated in a private ceremony, which was followed by a public ceremony held at the Ulster Museum and included the formal signing of repatriation documents. It was attended by representatives from OHA, Hui Iwi Kuamo‘o, National Museums NI, and the United States Embassy.
Stacy Ferreira at OHA said,
"With deep humility and reverence, we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness). The return of our iwi kūpuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors."
Based on provenance research into the ancestral remains, it is believed that Mr. Gordon Augustus Thomson, who travelled from Belfast to Hawaiʻi Island in 1840, had removed iwi kūpuna from burial caves and donated them to Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society in 1857. They were then included in a 1910 donation to the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery, a precursor to Ulster Museum and National Museums NI.
As Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI explains, the repatriation represents the organisation’s commitment to addressing wrongs of the past. She said,
“Whilst the motivation behind the acquisition of ethnological material can appear strange today, it reflected curiosity about the wider world and a desire to represent diverse cultures. However, the European bias and power imbalances that often characterised this collecting have left a complex and sensitive legacy for us to address today. National Museums NI believes it has ethical responsibilities to redress any injustices shown to cultural values and traditions.
“There was regret when we found ourselves unable to honour the full repatriation request from Hawaiʻi in 2022, so we are pleased this has now been resolved. We are grateful to Hawaiʻi for its support, patience and respect throughout the process. We remain in ongoing liaison with various source communities around the world and are open to further repatriations as these engagements develop.”
Hannah Crowdy is Head of Curatorial at National Museums NI. She said the museums sector is on an ongoing journey with decolonisation. She concluded,
“Inclusive Global Histories is National Museums NI’s programme for the decolonisation of our museums and collections. It involves ongoing dialogue and collaboration with communities both here in Northern Ireland and further afield. With their support and guidance, we are re-evaluating the 4,500 items in the World Cultures Collection. We want to better understand and ethically represent the often-complex stories they carry, including how and why they came to be in Belfast.
“The vision of the programme, which includes a dedicated exhibition at the Ulster Museum, is one of respect, empathy and reconciliation as it aims to promote dialogue between those of different national and cultural identities. It’s a powerful reminder of the role museums can play in identity and peacebuilding and how our collections allow us to understand and address the past, question the present, and shape new thinking that will create a better future for everyone.”
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L-R: Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive National Museums NI; Kuike Kamakea-Ohelo;, Kamana Caceres; Kalehua Caceres; and Mana Caceres, delegates from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hui Iwi Kuamoʻo.
