French Parliament approves return of Indigenous remains to French Guiana

The French Parliament has unanimously voted to approve a law that will allow for the repatriation of the remains of six Indigenous people to French Guiana. This landmark decision follows a long-standing request to return the individuals who died in France over a century ago.

The six individuals were brought to France in 1892 and exhibited at the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris. Their deaths occurred under circumstances that have been described as part of the era's "human zoos." Since then, their remains have been held in France, a situation that has been a source of distress and a call for justice.

The legislation, which originated in the Senate, now opens the door for the remains to be returned to their ancestral homeland. This move is seen as a significant step towards rectifying historical injustices and acknowledging the dignity of the Indigenous communities of French Guiana.

The unanimous vote in the National Assembly underscores a broad consensus in France to address this painful chapter of its colonial past. The repatriation is expected to provide closure for the descendants and communities in French Guiana.