Native America Calling

The American Museum of Natural History announced plans in Oct. 2023 to repatriate remains from 12,000 individuals as part of what museum officials say is an ethical obligation to return such items in its collection. (Photo: J.M. Luijt via Wikimedia Commons/CC)

Thursday, January 11, 2024 – Repatriation pressure pays off

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:30 — 38.8MB) | Embed

The year 2023 saw substantially more ancestral remains returned to tribal nations than any time since the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) — and more repatriations are in the works. That’s the stunning assessment by the news outlet ProPublica. The progress in complying with federal law after years of resistance follows ProPublica’s own investigation into institutions’ failure to hand over remains and steady pressure by tribes and organizations like the Association on American Indian Affairs. We’ll find out about what it took to overcome decades of resistance by museums, universities, and other institutions and what else needs to be done.

GUESTS

Mary Hudetz (Apsáalooke, Crow), investigative reporter for ProPublica

Shannon O’Loughlin (citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), chief executive and lawyer with the Association on American Indian Affairs

Break 1 Music: All My Relations (song) Spirit Nation (artist) Winter Moons (album)

Break 2 Music: Victory (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use our site, we will assume you have given your consent. Click here to opt-out.