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Friday, September 5, 2003

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was passed in 1990 to ensure cultural property and tribal ancestors are returned to Native people.

But implementing the law is easier said than done. Museums often lack documentation for artifacts in their collection, making it difficult for tribes to know what to reclaim. The Museum of Northern Arizona says it doesn't know exactly where 15,000 to 20,000 of its 250,000-item collection came from.

Other artifacts are traded behind the scenes. At the Heard Museum, a stolen Hopi shield surfaced at an auction and was eventually returned to the tribe.

The Arizona State Museum recently repatriated 37,000 artifacts and 30 ancestors to the Gila River Indian Community.

Get the Story:
Sacred tribal objects slowly return home (The Arizona Republic 9/5)

Relevant Links:
National NAGPRA site - http://www.cr.nps.gov/nagpra

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