Repatriation for museums and institutions like them is the process by which important cultural items and human remains are returned to lineal descendants or descendant communities.
For domestic repatriations, the Museum adheres to a law called the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (1990). NAGPRA requires Federal agencies and institutions that receive Federal funds (including museums, universities, state agencies, and local governments) to repatriate or transfer Native American human remains and other cultural items to the appropriate parties by:
- Consulting with lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations on Native American human remains and other cultural items;
- Protecting and planning for Native American human remains and other cultural items that may be removed from Federal or tribal lands;
- Identifying and reporting all Native American human remains and other cultural items in inventories and summaries of holdings or collections; and
- Giving notice prior to repatriating or transferring human remains and other cultural items.
Learn more about NAGPRA here.
While most repatriation claims are facilitated through NAGPRA, the Museum also gives full consideration to repatriation requests for the return of human remains and associated funerary objects from culturally affiliated descendant communities or lineal descendants for whom NAGPRA does not apply.
One of the most common questions visitors ask on tours of the Museum’s collections is, “where did this come from?”
With an estimated 7.5 million materials housed at the Museum and having been established over 150 years ago, collecting histories represented by the items are wide ranging.
While most of these histories show a deep respect and care for other communities, others – especially those from the late 19th and early 20th century – are problematic.
Many collectors believed the scientific benefit of collecting certain items and human remains outweighed the harm they were causing communities or were ignorant of the damage left in their wake. Many cultural items were bought from looted archeological sites under the assumption that Native peoples were going to disappear; and therefore, their cultures needed to be documented and preserved.
Today, more laws are in place to protect cultural materials and archeological sites. The ethics of acquisitions within museums have also changed over the years. While some objects would be accessioned into collections in ways that were considered acceptable then, modern day standards and ethics may not permit the same methods. Now museums are expected to thoroughly research the provenance or the origins and records of the history of the object, who has had it in their possession, and how they acquired it. The Museum aims to have a collection with thorough provenance research to ensure that all objects can be legally and ethically accessioned. This takes a lot of time and research, especially when considering the size of the Museum’s collection. It is always an ongoing process to improve our records and collection. All objects in the Museum are treated with respect and dignity.
The Museum is currently in the process of fulfilling its NAGPRA responsibilities. The Museum has all known associated remains available for return to the Caddo and Quapaw Nations. Thanks to a grant from the National Park Service, the Museum is currently processing all Osage Nation objects that fall under NAGPRA. Cataloging is ongoing. NAGRPA matters can be considered a private and sensitive matter, meaning that neither the Nation nor the Museum may be able to provide detailed information about specific objects or active work. However, all notices that the Museum has published for its NAGPRA responsibilities are available on the Federal Register.