The American Museum of Natural History announced plans to repatriate 2,700 hair samples taken from Native Americans in the 19th century. This decision, reported on October 20, 2023, aligns with the Native American Graves Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and aims to return these samples to their rightful communities.
Background on Hair Samples Repatriation
The hair samples were originally collected during spurious scientific studies, including for display at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. For decades, institutions interpreted NAGPRA as excluding hair, despite the insistence from Native groups and officials that it should be included. The New York Times reported that this misunderstanding has now been rectified.
In 2022, the Harvard Peabody Museum agreed to repatriate hair samples, prompting the federal government to update NAGPRA to explicitly include hair as remains that must be returned unless proven to have been freely given or naturally shed.
Engagement with Native Tribes
Following this update, the American Museum of Natural History has reached out to approximately 150 tribes associated with the hair samples. These include the Choctaw, Cree, Sioux, Chippewa, Crow, Menomini, Munsee, Omaha, and Oneida tribes. Museum officials are committed to revising halls focused on Native American cultures, incorporating tribal consultation into the renovation process.
“As the work to accelerate compliance with NAGPRA around the country has gained an elevated importance at the Department of Interior,” stated museum president Sean M. Decatur, “the investment in resources to make this work possible nationally hasn’t kept pace.”
Funding and Future Plans
The museum has also requested Congress to increase funding for programs affiliated with NAGPRA. This push for resources is essential for supporting the repatriation process and ensuring that Native American communities receive their cultural heritage back.
- 2,700 hair samples to be repatriated
- Samples collected for 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
- Engagement with 150 tribes
- Request for increased NAGPRA funding
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