The 3rd in the Friends of Te Papa ‘101’ series we will explore the concepts and practicalities of what repatriation means in New Zealand. A quick fire and fun session with experts in the field, join us to learn about bringing ancestors and taonga (treasures) home and enjoy a drink of your choice and nibbles.
There are thousands of ancestral remains and objects spread across the globe that have been traded throughout history for a variety of reasons. This session will take a look at the history of the trade, the cultural shifts enabling communities to bring them home, some specific stories (including a very special barnacle) and the reasons as to why they were so highly prized both in the past and present. Come away with an appreciation of what repatriation truly is and means to our society, why it’s carried out and is important and know what still to be done in the future. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions of Te Papa’s talented staff in this exclusive session. We’re joined by experts from Te Papa including:
- Te Herekiekie Herewini, Head of Repatriation
- Sean Mallon, Senior Curator Pacific Cultures
101 sessions are designed to be open, fun and full of visuals, we hope you’ll join us at this fascinating session where we’ll unfold the complex work of repatriation. Please note that we will enjoy food and drink after the talks.
Image: Repatriation Ceremony, 2016, Te Papa