The Repatriation and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office is combined, we are located on the Pawnee nation Tribal Reserve in Building #1. Francis Morris is the Repatriation Coordinator and Alice Alexander is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and the Administrative Assistant for the Repatriation Coordinator.

In 1990, Congress passed the Native American Graves protection and Repatriation Act, Public Law 101-106. This law has two parts. The first protects Native American graves found on Federal & Tribal lands. The second part directs that all museums, universities, and federal agencies that receive federal funds shall return all human remains, Burial objects, Sacred Objects and items of cultural Patrimony to the tribes that they are related to.

There are five (5) five classifications of the native American Graves Protection Rights Act:

• Human Remains: These are physical remains of human body.

• Funerary Objects: These are objects that were intentionally placed with the body at the time of burial.

• Unassociated Funerary Objects: These are objects that were placed in the grave at the time of the burial, but for one reason or another the body has been taken from the grave, probably by grave robbers, and these objects were left behind.

• Sacred Objects: These are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional religious leaders for the current practice of the Native American religion.

• Objects of Cultural Patrimony: These are objects that have an ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance centrally needed by the tribe. Important thing to remember is that these items were the property of the tribe, and could not be sold, traded or given away by any individual member of the tribe. By oral tradition all items used in ceremonies were owned by the tribe because of their tradition, cultural and religious importance to the tribe.

 

All museums that are in control of these objects have been directed to prepare an inventory of these objects and forward them on to the tribe of their affiliation.

Consultants between the institution and the tribe are to be held so that the two entities can cooperate and agree on the rightful ownership and further repatriation of the objects in question.

A NAGRA claim letter is then written by the tribe to the institution notifying them of the tribal intent to repatriate.

The letter is forwarded to the National Park Service review board for their approval or denial. If approved, repatriation and reburial can take place after thirty (30) days if not approved we can appeal it. In case of unidentified remains, there are hundreds of these. Much research is needed before a tribe can hopefully find enough proof to file a claim letter for the repatriation.

The Pawnee Nation at this time has reburied approximately 1,500 individuals and we will be writing for more as soon as we can find the necessary proof.

 

 

 

 

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last updated June 21, 2005