So what exactly is NAGPRA? It stands for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. This is a Federal law that was passed in 1990 that provides systems for museums and Federal agencies to return a number of Native American cultural items. These items are human remains, funerary objects, or objects of cultural patrimony. When obtained, they are then returned to the “lineal descendants, and culturally affiliated Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.” Even though a few of the burial mounds were excavated, there are parts of the Native American heritage everywhere. We have to remember how long they were living in the Americas before Europeans came to their shores. Since they were forced out of their home lands, they left a lot behind. So when someone finds a bone the excavating begins. If a funerary object is found or anything that has to do with Native Americans, they will call NAGPRA. That said, even though they are called, then begins the detective work to whose tribe it belongs to.
Now even though the law was passed in late 1990, during the 1970's and 1980's some Native Americans argued that they were relations to some of the skeletal remains in museum collections. The problem with this is when one tribe claims to be a relation, others chime in in case they are wrong and they are one of theirs. The best example for this is “Kennewick Man (or “Ancient One).” These skeletal remains were found in July of 1996 “below the surface of Lake Wallula, a section of the Columbia River pooled behind McNary Dam in Kennewick, Washington.” When they were found the tribes of Umatilla, Colville, Yakima, and Nez Perce each claimed Kennewick Man was their ancestor. These remains were examined, measured, carbon dated (dated to over 9,000ya), and went through a myriad of tests (from CAT scans to X-rays). At first it was believed Kennewick Man was Caucasian, but when they where given to Native Americans to examine, it turned out he was not European, or Native American, or modern at all. To this day, the matter of who Kennewick Man was is still unresolved.
As you can imagine the newly formed NAGPRA has affected how archaeologists and anthropologist practice their studies. Native Americans were amoung the first “other worldly” cultures Franz Boas (father of American anthropology) studied. In an instance in 1897 he requested to be brought six Inuit people from Greenland to the Museum of Natural History to "obtain leisurely certain information which will be of the greatest scientific importance" regarding their culture. But in six weeks all six became sick, and as they had been shown in their tribe, they began to perform tribal healing process, and in doing so were mocked by it. In the early stages of anthropology the Native Americans, were seen as a form of “entertainment.” Before the coming of the NAGPRA law, anthropology had grown to respect and see these cultures as people and not as they were seen in the early years. “The promotion of ethical behavior is an important aspect of the society's (Society for American Archaeology) activities.” The following are eight ethical principles of the Society for American Anthropology:
- Stewardship. The archaeological record is irreplaceable and it is the responsibility of all archaeologists to practice and promote stewardship of the archaeological record.
- Accountability. Responsible archaeological research requires a commitment to consult with affected group(s) to establish a working relationship that can be beneficial to all parties involved.
- Commercialization. The buying and selling of objects contributes to the destruction of the archaeological record on the American continents and around the world. Archaeologists should discourage and avoid activities that enhance the commercial value of archaeological objects.
- Public Education and Outreach. Archaeologists should work with the public to improve the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the record.
- Intellectual Property. A researcher may have primary access to original materials and documents for a limited and reasonable time, after which these materials and documents must be available to others.
- Public Reporting and Publication. The knowledge that archaeologists obtain in their investigations must be presented to the public.
- Records and Preservation. Archaeologists should work actively for the preservation of archaeological collections, records, and reports.
- Training and Resources. Archaeologists must ensure that they have adequate training, experience, facilities, and other support necessary to conduct a program of research.
Out of these eight principles the one that is the most prevalent when excavating in foreign counties is the third one. It is not because of the fault of the archaeologists, but that of looters. Even if it is their past, some could not care less and just want to make quick money. But if they are found to be selling something with a Native American origin they are arrested and questioned. When there is are skeletal remains in the picture, a physical anthropologist is called, and the ethical rules are just as followed by them.
The Native American peoples are not dead, and neither is their culture. Many go about with “Indian” Halloween costumes without really understanding who they are dressing as, the symbolism the headdress, the beads, even the colours signify. Those who live in the United States do not think twice about the rich culture who this soil was robbed from. The least we could do is give the pieces they left behind back to them, not rob it like we did their land. Here is a link to the official NAGPRA website it you are interested in reading more into it: http://www.nps.gov/nagpra/.
Please feel free to comment on what you thought of the blog, or other physical anthropological subjects you would like me to cover.