Anthropology is a discipline concerned with understanding
the cultural and biological aspects of what it is and means to be human. Today, anthropologists have a strict code of
ethics that they are expected to adhere to and to put the interests of their research
participants above their own personal interests and research goals. Unfortunately, this standard has not always
existed within the discipline, which brought about not only ethical standards
but also legislative decrees to right previous wrongs. Today’s blog post is going to explore one
such matter: the Native Americans Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA).
NAGPRA came to fruition after the hard fought efforts of
many American Indians who were appalled and fed up with the defilement and
vandalism of their ancestor’s remains as well as sacred objects that were in
the custody of non-American Indian institutions. The American Indian out cries for the release
of these objects began during the American Indian Movement in the 1970s, but
they were not heard until the 1980s, which is when the legislations began to
take form. Federal legislation
regarding requirements of all federally funded institutions-public and
private-to return (or formally, repatriate) culturally related human remains
and sacred objects was eventually signed into law in 1990.
The NAGPRA legislation mandates that specific American
Indian objects be returned to federal recognized and closest lineal American
Indian groups. Objects covered under
NAGPRA include those defined as “human remains, funerary objects, sacred
objects, and objects of cultural patrimony”.
Unfortunately, only federally recognized American Indians, tribes, and
Native Hawaiians are able to lay claim to these items, but only the items that
are housed in American institutions.
Items under private ownership or institutions that have not received
federal funds are exempt from NAGPRA.
Since its enactment the NAGPRA legislation has been cited as leading to
the repatriation of approximately two million items that fall within the
aforementioned four categories. This has
been a joint effort involving the dedicated work of American Indians, various
institutions (from universities to museums), staff, and state and federal
workers to make sure compliance with NAGPRA is successfully met.
The purpose of NAGPRA was to right wrongs that
scholars-anthropological, medical, historical, and others-had brought against
American Indian groups over the past century or more. American Indian cemeteries had been
purposefully excavated and/or looted for prejudicial science and monetary gain,
all while American Indians were continued to be discriminated against and
exploited. Unfortunately, that discrimination
and exploitation remains today, thereby making NAGPRA still relevant and
important almost two decades after it was initially signed into law.
References
No Author. No
Date. National NAGPRA. U.S. Department of Interior. https://www.nps.gov/nagpra/
No Author. No
Date. “Native American Graves and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).” American
Alliance of Museums.
http://aam-us.org/docs/advocacy/brief-nagpra.pdf?sfvrsn=6
No Author. 2011. “NAGPRA.”
Indians of the Midwest. http://publications.newberry.org/indiansofthemidwest/property/nagpra-issues/
19 comments:
I'm not sure if I'm correct but it seems that the Native Americans had a lot of things stole from them and those items that where taken by the Federal government and placed in institutions were not able to be given back to the Natives.
The NAGPRA should be revised to be stronger and include those items under private ownership. Although, the NAGPRA is a step in the right direction there a miles of steps to be made in this direction. For example, another step would be to work towards giving back sacred Native American land and replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day, as California has already done.
In this article, I feel like the Native Americans should've been able to have their Items back and not seen the items as private ownership because these were items that was apart of they customs and traditions that was rightfully stolen from them when they was forced to leave the homes/lands. No museum should have artifacts in display unless it was rightfully donate or was given unto them from the tribal groups.
This article shows that there is still a little bit of a dark side to Anthropology. Although the moral standing and mindset has changed over time to not exploit others. The Natives are still be taken advantage of in a way that makes everyone uncomfortable.
Too many sacred objects, remains, and possession of American Indians have already been lost to Archaeological digs, sites, excavations, and even political projects. It is only natural for human beings to be curious, in fact, it is an evolutionary trait we've always been gifted. In a study by Kang et al. 2009, subjects' brain activity was observed and recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging as they were presented with trivia questions. They discovered that as the subjects were waiting for the answers to the questions, the part of the brain associated with reward anticipation was highly active. There's a certain boundary to curiosity, and as it is obvious to most people, more than enough human beings refuse to consider other's emotions and feelings about their own belongings and history. We created a code of ethics and incorporated it into our anthropological methods in order to spare others from suffering and distraught, however, when we are still destroying others history, especially if not for anthropological endeavors, we are digging ourselves into a hole of judgement and well met hatred. The border fence was signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 26th of 2006, and not only cut into the land and homes of hundreds of Americans, but laid waste to vast quantities of Indian American burial grounds. Tribes by the hundreds spoke out against this what only can be referred as a political atrocity, yet their cries were ignored by the immense numbers of our dense, stubborn and self serving fellow Americans. We are proud of the work and progress we make, and we are proud to say we work hard, however, when we cannot take the time to think of a more prosperous solution to these problems presenting themselves, we divide our country and we pit our own people against each other. It is an outrage our country has gone on as long as it has ignoring the pleas of others, ignoring opportunities of peace, of justice and of self preservation. I'm just a hopeful romantic, but I do believe we can unify. I absolutely believe we as a whole can serve not only ourselves, but others in the process. I believe if Mexican populaces flee to our borders, then there is a problem with Mexico, and if only we extended a helping hand full of resources and ideas, instead of desecrating our fellow Americans history by shutting out others, then we could solve a rational problem with a greater solution. If only everyone put others ahead of themselves, then our relations can and absolutely will improve with not only others, but within ourselves and our own country. Peace comes at a price. But I strongly believe it is our decision to determine what that price will be.
"Man has responsibility, not power."
-Tuscarora Proverb
Too many sacred objects, remains, and possession of American Indians have already been lost to Archaeological digs, sites, excavations, and even political projects. It is only natural for human beings to be curious, in fact, it is an evolutionary trait we've always been gifted. In a study by Kang et al. 2009, subjects' brain activity was observed and recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging as they were presented with trivia questions. They discovered that as the subjects were waiting for the answers to the questions, the part of the brain associated with reward anticipation was highly active. There's a certain boundary to curiosity, and as it is obvious to most people, more than enough human beings refuse to consider other's emotions and feelings about their own belongings and history. We created a code of ethics and incorporated it into our anthropological methods in order to spare others from suffering and distraught, however, when we are still destroying others history, especially if not for anthropological endeavors, we are digging ourselves into a hole of judgement and well met hatred. The border fence was signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 26th of 2006, and not only cut into the land and homes of hundreds of Americans, but laid waste to vast quantities of Indian American burial grounds. Tribes by the hundreds spoke out against this what only can be referred as a political atrocity, yet their cries were ignored by the immense numbers of our dense, stubborn and self serving fellow Americans. We are proud of the work and progress we make, and we are proud to say we work hard, however, when we cannot take the time to think of a more prosperous solution to these problems presenting themselves, we divide our country and we pit our own people against each other. It is an outrage our country has gone on as long as it has ignoring the pleas of others, ignoring opportunities of peace, of justice and of self preservation. I'm just a hopeful romantic, but I do believe we can unify. I absolutely believe we as a whole can serve not only ourselves, but others in the process. I believe if Mexican populaces flee to our borders, then there is a problem with Mexico, and if only we extended a helping hand full of resources and ideas, instead of desecrating our fellow Americans history by shutting out others, then we could solve a rational problem with a greater solution. If only everyone put others ahead of themselves, then our relations can and absolutely will improve with not only others, but within ourselves and our own country. Peace comes at a price. But I strongly believe it is our decision to determine what that price will be.
"Man has responsibility, not power."
-Tuscarora Proverb
I feel like the NAGPRA needs to make some changes to their act. It doesn't seem right that they couldn't get all their belongings back. If they had a sacred object, it shouldn't be able to be taken away.
Excessively numerous hallowed articles, remains, and ownership of American Indians have just been lost to Archeological burrows, locales, unearthings, and even political tasks. It is normal for people to be interested, truth be told, it is a developmental quality we've generally been talented.
My thoughts about the NAGPRA is that they are important they did what they needed to be heard. They finally got what they wanted and worked for NAGPRA was fed up and they fought for what they believed in. It was a great purpose behind having the law enforced and being heard.
I think the NAGPRA needs to be revised there's no reason why these people couldn't get their belongings taken away even if it's sacred to them.. it's just plain wrong and needs to be brought up again and again until they come up with a compromise.
-Armoni Mosby-Sheard
This is Jalen Scuefield and so basically these people helped recompinsate any land or objects for these people which is pretty considerate
I feel like they should be able to get their belongings back. Nothing sacred should be taken away from anyone. They don't know how it feels to have things taken away that are really important to them, I feel that the NAGPRA needs to change some of the regulations.
Kenneth Granger
PhiansiaButler
considering that the native americans were the first to discover land before christopher columbus stole and renamed the land, north america, i think the NAGPRA is an excellent amendment. the natives had everything they worked hard and long for stolen from them. and they were afraid that their possessions would become stolen when they passed away. the law was a great thing that has been set in place to protect those who are deceased.
I have and always will believe that native Americans are one of the most horribly treating humans throughout the history of the world. It saddens me all the turmoil that they suffered.
Lindsey Wilkerson
I remember you bringing up this discussion in class and I strongly stand by the NAGPRA amendment. This amendment protects those who have past as well as there family members. I think it is kind of selfish for not only anthropologist but anyone else to disturb someones grave because they want to collect here valuables just for their own research and fascination. That is not right nor is it fair.
This article is interesting and i can relate to it in particular because my grandmother is Native American and she told me about a lot if hardships that Natives have to go through in this country. I think that Native Americans are some of the most beautiful, spiritual and creative human beings and they deserve to be treated better than they have been in the past up until now.
I believe that the NAGPRA is a helpful amendment for the Native Americans who have been treated so poorly and taken from in the past.
- Malacia Lowe
I think that the NAGPRA is important. They made sure they did what they had to do to be heard. I also like how their amendment protects those who have past as well as there family members.
-Kyla Thomas
My name Aleisha watts, I think it's wrong and they did get their thing stolen from them. It's not right and it takes away from their rituals and culture. They deserve to have their things given back, but unfortunately, how everything is set up, it will probably not happen. It's too many who will say they didn't take anything from them just as people say they didn't take away from the American lifestyle. I don't see why someone would want to take something sacred to someone because what if voodoo is associated with it. Not saying it was but it just doesn't sit right with me.
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