Repatriation of Indian Human Remains

In: Anthropology Research and Developments

Abstract

Intro -- REPATRIATION OF INDIAN HUMAN REMAINS: EFFORTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION -- REPATRIATION OF INDIAN HUMAN REMAINS: EFFORTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION -- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: MUCH WORK STILL NEEDED TO IDENTIFY AND REPATRIATE INDIAN HUMAN REMAINS AND OBJECTS -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- ABBREVIATIONS -- BACKGROUND -- Museum Missions and Repatriation Offices -- NAGPRA Requirements and How They Differ from Those of the NMAI Act -- Special Committee Requirements under the NMAI Act -- Board of Trustees' Authority Established by the NMAI Act -- SINCE 1989, THE SMITHSONIAN HAS PREPARED REQUIRED SUMMARIES AND INVENTORIES AND HAS OFFERED TO REPATRIATE ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ITS INDIAN HUMAN REMAINS -- Both Museums Generally Prepared Required Documents on Time, but Inventories Raise Questions about Compliance with the NMAI Act -- Smithsonian's Progress in Offering Human Remains and Objects for Repatriation Has Been Slow -- The Smithsonian Identified Challenges to Meeting Its Repatriation Requirements -- THE REVIEW COMMITTEE'S OVERSIGHT AND REPORTING ARE LIMITED, AND IT FACES SOME CHALLENGES TO FULFILLING ITS REQUIREMENTS -- Contrary to the NMAI Act, the Review Committee Only Monitors the Repatriation Activities of the Natural History Museum -- The Review Committee Monitors the Natural History Museum but Does Not Report to Congress -- The Review Committee Has Heard Few Disputes, and No Independent Appeals Process Exists for Smithsonian Decisions -- The Review Committee Identified Challenges It Faces -- MOST HUMAN REMAINS AND MANY OBJECTS OFFERED FOR REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN REPATRIATED, BUT THE SMITHSONIAN HAS NO POLICY ON CULTURALLY UNIDENTIFIABLE ITEMS