NEW: More than a dozen senators are pressing for the museums and universities that hold Native American remains to explain why they’ve failed to return them to tribes as required by federal law.
Justin Katigbak for ProPublica
“We accept responsibility and accountability for the university’s past failings and errors in so far as repatriation and tribal relations are concerned,” it added. The senators cited an expert’s recent estimate that it could take 70 more years for institutions to complete the repatriation process. “This is simply unacceptable,” they wrote of the estimate by Chip Colwell, who as curator of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science oversaw its repatriation efforts.
Edward Halealoha Ayau, the chair of the NAGPRA Review Committee, said museums have too often skirted the mandate to consult with Indigenous people. Many institutions rely only on their own records and do not review evidence rooted in tribal traditions and knowledge when they decide on claims, he added.
The senators also asked the institutions what actions the government has taken against them under the law and the steps they took in response. Penalties are rare, federal data shows. Only 20 institutions have been fined under the law — for an average of $2,955 per institution, according to the latest available data from 2022. Of the five institutions that received a letter from the Senate, only Harvard and UC Berkeley have been cited, and they were not required to pay fines.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New York Public Schools Barred from Using Native American MascotsNew York public schools have been barred from using sports team mascots like Warriors, Chiefs, Redmen, or Braves.
Read more »
NY Board of Regents bans Native American mascots in public schoolsSchools that choose not to comply with the decision are at risk of losing some state funding.
Read more »
Fall of the 'Warriors': New York bans schools from having Native American mascotsOn a unanimous vote, the New York Board of Regents banned public schools in the state from using Native American mascots, as schools across the country have eschewed indigenous imagery for their school spirit.
Read more »
Meet the first Native American woman to bring a show to BroadwayLarissa FastHorse chats with Know Your Value about her new satirical comedy “The Thanksgiving Play,” the importance of representation, career pivots and more.
Read more »
Growing native plants in TucsonNative plants are underutilized in our gardens in the Sonoran Desert. Many nurseries sell plants from Mediterranean climates or from deserts in South Africa and South America. But our native trees, cacti, shrubs and flowers make for great garden plants,…
Read more »
A San Antonio native's guide to surviving FiestaThere are three stages of preparation you need if you want to finesse Fiesta like the royal entourage themselves.
Read more »