Repatriations and Restorations

Restoring Honor: NAGPRA Restoring Rights and
​​​​​​​Responsibilities to Native Graves

Repatriations and Restorations

Restoring Graves

After NAGPRA was passed, museums and other institutions began to inventory their collections, flagging any remains that could be affected by the law. Tribes began to file repatriation petitions, and the work of reburials began. Audits ensured that all institutions completed their legal responsibility effectively and quickly. 

NPR, Smithsonian Museum

"'It's the chafe between science and spirituality,' writes Kevin Taylor at Indian Country Today, 'between people who say the remains have so much to tell us about the ancient human past that they should remain available for research, versus people who feel a kinship with the ancient bones and say they should be reburied to show proper reverence for the dead.'"
NPR

“I think that the more recent generations and people working today – because you can tell I'm not a recent generation – but that working with Native people has actually enhanced, you know, what we've learned. And it becomes this collaborative exchange back and forth.”

-Deloria and Calloway

NAGPRA has repatriated the remains of over 3,000 people and over 30,000 affiliated artifacts. However, more work is needed as more than 100,000 Native remains are still held in collections away from their cultural homeland. Some of these remains are located in major universities and museums, such as Harvard University, which has more than 5,600 remains, and the American Museum of Natural History, which has at least 1,800 remains. ​​​​​​​

https://www.voanews.com/a/ancient-year-old-skeleton-native-american/1794991.html

Greater Understanding

Since NAPGRA was passed, archeologists have found new ways to study ancient Native American people without resorting to testing on tangible remains, which have included more connection with tribes. Because of this expanded connection, Native Americans have more peace and friendship with the scientific community, giving us more scientific findings without the pain previously inflicted on the Native Americans.

Britannica Kids

​​​​​​​National Park Service

"Through the inventory and the contacts, scientists are learning a great deal about the objects and the people they represent."
Bauman