An FBI investigation led to the repatriation of five sacred human relics from New York to the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The artifacts included skulls and effigies that were seized from a New York collector’s estate. The return ceremony was attended by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, marking the end of an eight-year investigation. The effigies were identified by Vanuatu curator Kaitip Kami, who recognized the artifacts from his island home. The fragile effigies, once stored in New York, were meticulously transported to Vanuatu with the help of anthropology professor Holly Cusack-McVeigh. The artifacts are part of a cultural heritage traded worldwide in the 18th and 19th centuries. The repatriation of these relics is a significant step in preserving Vanuatu’s cultural heritage. The Smol Nambas tribe in Malakula, the artifacts’ place of origin, stopped practicing the tradition of creating effigies years ago. Kami emphasized the importance of keeping the effigies in Vanuatu, as they are considered part of a human being.
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