Stories of Repatriation, Relationship, and Healing

A Public Conversation co-presented by the UCLA Waystation Initiative, the Fowler Museum at UCLA, and the Museum of Us (San Diego) October 7, 2026: 5:00pm to 8pm, with a reception from 8:00 to 9:00 at the Fowler Museum

This event will bring together members of Indigenous communities from California and beyond to share powerful, firsthand stories about the return of objects and ancestors from museum collections.

These acts of restitution are about far more than the transfer of physical material or compliance with laws and regulations. They are acts of repair. Speakers will reflect on what these returns mean for their families and communities: the healing they carry, the responsibilities they restore, and the relationships that can be built between communities and the institutions that have long held what was taken.

The conversation will explore how museums and communities worldwide are working together to reimagine what these relationships can look like — moving away from one-sided, extractive practices toward something built on reciprocity, respect, and genuine collaboration. The event will offer a reflective and illuminating exchange and an affirming opportunity to witness a significant conversation about heritage justice, restoring balance, and supporting the self-determination of Indigenous communities.

For participants, this is an opportunity to reach both a general public and scholarly audience, and to make the case — through lived experience and professional expertise — for why restitution matters so deeply and what more equitable relationships between institutions and communities of origin can look like.

Check back soon for registration details.