As Europeans spread into the New World, their sense of superiority and entitlement can be found in the various laws that failed to protect the indigenous people’s culture. The passage of NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) in 1990 would slowly begin to rectify the hurt, damage, and atrocities committed in the name of science. For many Native American’s not only was their land taken, the remains of their ancestors were removed and carted off. The remains along with cultural goods became collectibles, which were studied and later displayed in many of our nation’s museums. Native inhabitants were placed on reservations, coming under further control of the Federal government. Much of this occurred during the United
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The Museum Act, created a museum within the Smithsonian for Native Americans. This act also began the requirement where the inventories of Native American goods within museums, along with the repatriation of such items were to occur. One part of inventorying items was to offer up information as to the origins of where the remains came from. The Museum Act was a vital first step towards the creation of NAGPRA (Thorpe, 2013: 24-25). This latter act applies to the repatriation of items, protection of burial sites along with cultural items, and the trafficking of Native American remains and cultural items (Thorpe, 2013: …show more content…
There is a stipulation stating that bodily items naturally shed, or freely given are not to be considered as human remains. An example of this would be human hair used for rope. Funerary are items placed with an individual at the time of death, whereas, sacred items are needed for the present day practice of traditional Native ceremonies (Thorpe, 2013: 31-32). In order to deal with issues that can and may develop a review committee is appointed. This committee is made up of three people from both the Native American groups and National Museums, along with one party chosen from a list assembled by the first six. It is their job to monitor the identification and inventory process of NAGPRA. They will also make recommendations, resolve disputes, and put forward a yearly report to Congress (Thorpe, 2013:
The Museum Act, created a museum within the Smithsonian for Native Americans. This act also began the requirement where the inventories of Native American goods within museums, along with the repatriation of such items were to occur. One part of inventorying items was to offer up information as to the origins of where the remains came from. The Museum Act was a vital first step towards the creation of NAGPRA (Thorpe, 2013: 24-25). This latter act applies to the repatriation of items, protection of burial sites along with cultural items, and the trafficking of Native American remains and cultural items (Thorpe, 2013: …show more content…
There is a stipulation stating that bodily items naturally shed, or freely given are not to be considered as human remains. An example of this would be human hair used for rope. Funerary are items placed with an individual at the time of death, whereas, sacred items are needed for the present day practice of traditional Native ceremonies (Thorpe, 2013: 31-32). In order to deal with issues that can and may develop a review committee is appointed. This committee is made up of three people from both the Native American groups and National Museums, along with one party chosen from a list assembled by the first six. It is their job to monitor the identification and inventory process of NAGPRA. They will also make recommendations, resolve disputes, and put forward a yearly report to Congress (Thorpe, 2013: