Latest news with #StacyFerreira
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Office of Hawaiian Affairs team retrieves ancestral remains
A team from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui Iwi Kuamoo is heading home to Hawaii after taking back five sets of ancestral Hawaiian remains during formal ceremonies from the National Museums of Northern Ireland—Ulster Museum. Ethnologist Gordon Augustus Thomson of Belfast, Ireland, traveled to Hawaii island in 1840, found and removed the iwi kupuna from burial caves and donated them to the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society in 1857, according to OHA. The items were included in a 1910 donation to the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery, a precursor to Ulster Museum and NMNI. 'With deep humility and reverence we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness ). The return of our iwi kupuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors, ' said OHA CEO Stacy Ferreira said in a news release. OHA started the repatriation process in October 2021 with a claim for five iwi kupuna and five mea kapu (sacred objects ) believed to be at the museum in Northern Ireland. After museum staff could not find three sets of remains, a team from Hawaii traveled to Ireland in April 2022 and retrieved two iwi kupuna plus the mea kapu. The museum staff found the missing remains in November. Hui Iwi Kuamoo and OHA collaborated with the museum to make arrangements for a second repatriation. The group has provided 'care for iwi kupuna ' and other sacred objects since 1989. Hui Iwi Kuamoo founder Halealoha Ayau said in a news release that taking remains from Hawaii was 'illicit and a form of desecration, ' adding that the iwi will be reinterred on Hawaii island. 'We don't have to know who these people are, we just have to know they are Hawaiian, ' Ayau told the BBC News. 'The living have a responsibility to bring them back and to replant them into our land. They can continue their journey to decompose, become elemental again, and their spirit (s ) allowed to travel on.' Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of NMNI said in a statement that the repatriation represents the museum's commitment to right wrongs of the past. '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 characterized this collecting have left a complex and sensitive legacy for us to address today, ' she said. The repatriation team included Hale aloha Ayau, Halona Tanner, Mana and Kalehua Caceres, Kamana Caceres, Keoki Pescaia, Ulu Cashman, Koiahi Panua and Kalei Velasco representing Hui Iwi Kuamoo ; representing OHA were Kamakana Ferreira, OHA compliance archaeologist, and Kuike Kamakea Ohelo, director of oiwi well-being and aina momona.
The Journal
29-04-2025
- General
- The Journal
Human remains taken from Hawaiian burial caves repatriated from Belfast
THREE SETS OF ancestral human remains taken from burial caves in Hawaii and brought to Belfast in the 19th century have been repatriated. National Museums Northern Ireland returned the remains, known as iwi kupuna in the Hawaiian language, in a private ceremony following dialogue with the authorities in the US island state. They will now be taken back to Hawaii. A separate public ceremony was held in the Ulster Museum in Belfast on Monday evening and attended by representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Hui Iwi Kuamo'o – an organisation established to protect the islands' ancient remains – and the United States embassy. The return of the remains comes three years after another repatriation from National Museums NI to Hawaii. The 2022 event involved the return of two sets of iwi kupuna as well as five sacred items (known as mea kapu). A request for the return of three other sets of remains went unfulfilled at that time as the museum authorities were uncertain of their whereabouts in Northern Ireland. Based on research into all the remains, it is believed Belfast-born ethnologist Gordon Augustus Thomson, who travelled to Hawaii island in 1840, removed them from burial caves. It is understood he donated them to the 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. After the 2022 repatriation ceremony, National Museums NI committed to continuing to search for the three other sets of remains that could not be located. It said the uncertainty on their whereabouts was due to the absence of professional collection management practices at the time of their donation. In 2024, the three iwi kupuna were located during a review of human remains in the National Museums NI collections and the OHA was subsequently notified. The public ceremony at the Ulster Museum on Monday included the formal signing of repatriation documents. Stacy Ferreira from the OHA highlighted the significance of the occasion. Advertisement 'With deep humility and reverence, we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness),' she said. 'The return of our iwi kupuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors.' Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI, said the repatriation was representative of the organisation's commitment to addressing wrongs of the past. '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,' she said. '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 Hawaii in 2022, so we are pleased this has now been resolved. We are grateful to Hawaii 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, head of curatorial at National Museums NI, said the museums sector was on an 'ongoing journey with decolonisation'. 'Inclusive Global Histories is National Museums NI's programme for the decolonisation of our museums and collections,' she said. '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.'
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Remains taken from Hawaiian burial caves repatriated from Northern Ireland
Three sets of ancestral human remains taken from burial caves in Hawaii and brought to Belfast in the 19th century have been repatriated. National Museums Northern Ireland returned the remains, known as iwi kupuna in the Hawaiian language, in a private ceremony following dialogue with the authorities in the US island state. A separate public ceremony was held in the Ulster Museum in Belfast yesterday evening and attended by representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Hui Iwi Kuamo'o - an organisation established to protect the islands' ancient remains - and the United States embassy. The return of the remains comes three years after another repatriation from National Museums NI to Hawaii. The 2022 event involved the return of two sets of iwi kupuna as well as five sacred items (known as mea kapu). A request for the return of three other sets of remains went unfulfilled at that time as the museum authorities were uncertain of their whereabouts in Northern Ireland. Based on research into all the remains, it is believed Belfast-born ethnologist Gordon Augustus Thomson, who travelled to Hawaii island in 1840, removed them from burial caves. It is understood he donated them to the 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. After the 2022 repatriation ceremony, National Museums NI committed to continuing to search for the three other sets of remains that could not be located. It said the uncertainty on their whereabouts was due to the absence of professional collection management practises at the time of their donation. In 2024, the three iwi kupuna were located during a review of human remains in the National Museums NI collections and the OHA was subsequently notified. The public ceremony at the Ulster Museum yersterday included the formal signing of repatriation documents. Stacy Ferreira from the OHA highlighted the significance of the occasion. "With deep humility and reverence, we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness)," she said. "The return of our iwi kupuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors." Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI, said the repatriation was representative of the organisation's commitment to addressing wrongs of the past. "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," she said. "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 Hawaii in 2022, so we are pleased this has now been resolved. We are grateful to Hawaii 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, head of curatorial at National Museums NI, said the museum sector was on an "ongoing journey with decolonisation". "Inclusive Global Histories is National Museums NI's programme for the decolonisation of our museums and collections," she said. "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."
The Independent
29-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Human remains taken from Hawaiian burial caves repatriated from Northern Ireland
Three sets of ancestral human remains taken from burial caves in Hawaii and brought to Belfast in the 19th century have been repatriated. National Museums Northern Ireland returned the remains, known as iwi kupuna in the Hawaiian language, in a private ceremony following dialogue with the authorities in the US island state. They will now be taken back to Hawaii. A separate public ceremony was held in the Ulster Museum in Belfast on Monday evening and attended by representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Hui Iwi Kuamo'o – an organisation established to protect the islands' ancient remains – and the United States embassy. The return of the remains comes three years after another repatriation from National Museums NI to Hawaii. The 2022 event involved the return of two sets of iwi kupuna as well as five sacred items (known as mea kapu). A request for the return of three other sets of remains went unfulfilled at that time as the museum authorities were uncertain of their whereabouts in Northern Ireland. Based on research into all the remains, it is believed Belfast-born ethnologist Gordon Augustus Thomson, who travelled to Hawaii island in 1840, removed them from burial caves. It is understood he donated them to the 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. After the 2022 repatriation ceremony, National Museums NI committed to continuing to search for the three other sets of remains that could not be located. It said the uncertainty on their whereabouts was due to the absence of professional collection management practices at the time of their donation. In 2024, the three iwi kupuna were located during a review of human remains in the National Museums NI collections and the OHA was subsequently notified. The public ceremony at the Ulster Museum on Monday included the formal signing of repatriation documents. Stacy Ferreira from the OHA highlighted the significance of the occasion. 'With deep humility and reverence, we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness),' she said. 'The return of our iwi kupuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors.' Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI, said the repatriation was representative of the organisation's commitment to addressing wrongs of the past. '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,' she said. '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 Hawaii in 2022, so we are pleased this has now been resolved. We are grateful to Hawaii 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, head of curatorial at National Museums NI, said the museums sector was on an 'ongoing journey with decolonisation'. 'Inclusive Global Histories is National Museums NI's programme for the decolonisation of our museums and collections,' she said. '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.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Human remains taken from Hawaiian burial caves repatriated from Northern Ireland
Three sets of ancestral human remains taken from burial caves in Hawaii and brought to Belfast in the 19th century have been repatriated. National Museums Northern Ireland returned the remains, known as iwi kupuna in the Hawaiian language, in a private ceremony following dialogue with the authorities in the US island state. They will now be taken back to Hawaii. A separate public ceremony was held in the Ulster Museum in Belfast on Monday evening and attended by representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Hui Iwi Kuamo'o – an organisation established to protect the islands' ancient remains – and the United States embassy. The return of the remains comes three years after another repatriation from National Museums NI to Hawaii. The 2022 event involved the return of two sets of iwi kupuna as well as five sacred items (known as mea kapu). A request for the return of three other sets of remains went unfulfilled at that time as the museum authorities were uncertain of their whereabouts in Northern Ireland. Based on research into all the remains, it is believed Belfast-born ethnologist Gordon Augustus Thomson, who travelled to Hawaii island in 1840, removed them from burial caves. It is understood he donated them to the 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. After the 2022 repatriation ceremony, National Museums NI committed to continuing to search for the three other sets of remains that could not be located. It said the uncertainty on their whereabouts was due to the absence of professional collection management practices at the time of their donation. In 2024, the three iwi kupuna were located during a review of human remains in the National Museums NI collections and the OHA was subsequently notified. The public ceremony at the Ulster Museum on Monday included the formal signing of repatriation documents. Stacy Ferreira from the OHA highlighted the significance of the occasion. 'With deep humility and reverence, we witness the healing of a long-standing kaumaha (sadness),' she said. 'The return of our iwi kupuna is about restoring dignity, healing generations, and reaffirming the living spirit of our ancestors.' Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI, said the repatriation was representative of the organisation's commitment to addressing wrongs of the past. '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,' she said. '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 Hawaii in 2022, so we are pleased this has now been resolved. We are grateful to Hawaii 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, head of curatorial at National Museums NI, said the museums sector was on an 'ongoing journey with decolonisation'. 'Inclusive Global Histories is National Museums NI's programme for the decolonisation of our museums and collections,' she said. '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.'
