"This is a matter of no small concern to Geronimo's descendants and to the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona. If the remains of their forefather and tribal hero are indeed ensconced in the halls of a college mens' club, that would be an outrage to be corrected forthwith.
And judging from the 1918 letter, it seems more than likely that the remains of some Indian, if not Geronimo himself, were disturbed. The outrage would be no less even were the bones' owner more obscure.
The question speaks to some of the most troubling aspects of America's past and even its present: its treatment of indigenous peoples, its cultural arrogance. The past will continue to haunt us until good-faith efforts are made to correct its mistakes, and this could well be one of them.
It is necessary for Skull and Bones to come clean on this. No one is asking them to divulge their secret handshake or reveal their initiation rites.
But fraternal codes of silence are poor excuses for covering up wrongdoing if indeed wrongdoing occurred.
It's about time we found out."
Get the Story:A matter of respect (The Arizona Republic 5/24) Yale Alumni Magazine Story:
Whose Skull and Bones? (May/June 2006) Related Stories:
Geronimo letter stirs passions about famed leader (05/11)
Researcher skeptical about claim on Geronimo (5/9)
1918 letter places Geronimo's remains at Yale (5/8)
NAGPRA board asked to review Bush-Geronimo claims (08/16)