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Yorta Yorta elder Henry Atkinson has been appointed to the Federal Government's new International Repatriation Committee. The committee will work with international institutions, such as museums, to bring home indigenous remains.
The government estimates about 1000 remains are being held in museums in the UK, Germany, France, Poland and the US.
Mr Atkinson, a member of the former Howard government's Repatriation Committee, has extensive repatriation experience and has travelled overseas many times to repatriate remains.
He will join seven other indigenous people from around Australia on the committee.
Mr Atkinson said he hoped the International Repatriation Committee would continue until all remains were returned to Australia.
``The Australian Government at last realises the repatriation of ancestral remains is important to heal the pain of the past and must occur with unconditional respect and be as quick as possible,'' Mr Atkinson said.
``I am hoping the government, while it is endeavouring to make this come about, will not rest until it has been completed.
``Having some or nearly all of the remains returned is not an option. All must be returned.''
Repatriation of indigenous remains is an issue which is important to Mr Atkinson, going to ``the core of his very being''.
However, he said he was concerned many people were unaware indigenous remains were being held in museums.
``For people to understand the need and reasons for repatriation they need to know why, and people just don't know,'' Mr Atkinson said.
``They don't know about the forced taking of people, even when alive, to be killed for this purpose and they ought (to know).
``Indigenous remains were collected by explorers, travellers and scientists and sent to museums and private collections, not only in Australia, but worldwide.''
