A traditional smoking ceremony has been held in London to mark the return of the remains of 13 Aboriginal ancestors to Australia from British museums and universities.
Friday's ceremony at Australia House involved the signing over of remains from Birmingham and Brighton and Cambridge University to the Ngarrindjeri people in South Australia and Western Australia's Whadjuk community.
Major Sumner of the Ngarrindjeri told the gathering as he conducted the smoking ceremony he was seeking to clear the "negative energy" from the ancestors before they were "put back where they came from".
Dr June Jones of Birmingham University said she wanted to acknowledge the wrong that was done to the ancestors.
"I want to say we're sorry".
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The return of the remains was arranged through the Australian government's Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation.
