Excerpt from the Michigan Daily:
* * *
LSA sophomore Alys Alley, the co-chair of the Native American Student Association at the University, wrote in an e-mail interview that she and other members of the group believe that the new rule will mean that the culturally unidentifiable remains in the University’s possession will be returned to their respective tribes.
“Many of those remains that are held by the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology are the ancestors of the Native American students on campus, including myself, and I can say confidently that we are looking forward to the return of our ancestor’s remains to our communities,” she wrote.
She added that the status of the “culturally unidentifiable” remains in the University’s possession has caused a lot of tension between the University and Native American groups in Michigan.
“This whole situation with the 1,390 Native American human remains in the U of M Museum of Anthropology has caused a lot of pain for the Native American community; we have struggled to see our ancestors return home for many years,” she wrote.
* * *
Rackham graduate student Veronica Pasfield, who is also a co-chair of Native Caucus — a graduate student group — and a member of the Bay Mills Tribe, said though she and members of other tribes appreciate the new ruling, they feel that the University has not always acted in compliance with the 1990 law.
“I don’t understand why U of M’s non-compliance with the spirit and letter of this law has been overlooked or tolerated for the last 15 years,” she said.
Though Pasfield said the University has not met the wishes of Native Americans in the past with regards to the remains, she and other members of the Native Caucus were glad to see the formation of the University’s committee in the fall, which she said will help lead a smooth transition to the new regulations.
“I’m so grateful that the repatriation committee has been formed and that the new regulations have been announced while the (University’s) committee is doing their good work,” she said.
Pasfield said she feels the new rule is indicative of the fact that many museums — including the University’s Museum of Anthropology — have had issues complying with the original law
“The fact that a 15-year tug-of-war about regulations surrounding ‘unidentifiable remains’ has resulted in a stronger call for their return to a peaceful burial to me shows how out of step obstructionist museums are in this law,” she said.
Turtle Talk 