Key Points
- Oxford University decided to return 39 Naga ancestral remains to Nagaland.
- The decision followed six years of negotiations and a community-led process.
- In June 2025, a Naga delegation visited Oxford and signed a joint declaration.
- The return is part of a global movement of indigenous communities reclaiming cultural heritage from Western institutions.
By the Numbers
Oxford University has officially decided to return 39 Naga ancestral human remains held at the Pitt Rivers Museum following six years of negotiations. The University's governing body made this decision on July 13, paving the way for the remains' return to Nagaland. One additional remain will not be returned due to insufficient evidence of Naga origin.
The repatriation process began with an initiative launched in 2020 and was coordinated by the Naga Tribal Hohos, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and the RRaD team. In June 2025, a delegation of Naga tribal leaders and elders visited Oxford to view the remains and signed the "Naga Oxford Repatriation Declaration." This declaration defined the return as being of central importance for the healing and integrity of the Naga people.
The delegation will now formally request the remains from the museum and bring them to Nagaland. Naga leaders framed this process as a step in a longer struggle for "justice and honour" and situated it within a global movement of indigenous communities seeking the return of ancestral remains and cultural artifacts from Western institutions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Naga ancestral remains will be returned?
- Oxford University decided to return 39 Naga ancestral human remains held at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
- How did the repatriation process begin?
- The process began in 2020 when Pitt Rivers Museum Director Dr. Van Broekhoven approached the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, leading to the formation of the RRaD initiative.
- What did the Naga delegation do in Oxford?
- In June 2025, Naga tribal leaders viewed the remains, held discussions with museum staff, and signed the 'Naga Oxford Repatriation Declaration.'
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