The remains of 18,500 Native Americans and numerous artifacts are currently residing with the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. while 8000 sets of remains are currently housed at the University of California Berkley. These Native American remains are among the many that have been acquired by museums and universities over the past few years and have yet to be returned to their tribes for proper burial.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act is a Federal law passed in 1990. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items -- human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony -- to lineal descendants, and culturally affiliated Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. NAGPRA includes provisions for unclaimed and culturally unidentifiable Native American cultural items, intentional and inadvertent discovery of Native American cultural items on Federal and tribal lands, and penalties for non compliance and illegal trafficking. In addition, NAGPRA authorizes Federal grants to Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and museums to assist with the documentation and repatriation of Native American cultural items, and establishes the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee to monitor the NAGPRA process and facilitate the resolution of disputes that may arise concerning repatriation under NAGPRA.
With the passage of NAGPRA, Native American Tribes, such as the Southern Sierra Miwok, have begun the slow process of returning their ancestors to the earth. Once the decision is made to repatriate remains, a bagful and appropriate place is blessed, the right words are respectfully said, and a solemn ceremony is held at the chosen site. Several of these ceremonies have taken place at a handful of U.S. Fish and Game Wildlife refuges in recent years with the participation of numerous tribal members and friends of the Southern Sierra Miwok Nation.
These repatriations could not have been possible without the tireless work of one Ronn T. Slay and his group of dedicated souls that have given of their time and effort to insure that the repatriation of Native Americans is carried out with the dignity and the respect that they would want for themselves and their loved ones. Ronn Slay comes does not come this work lightly or without his own reasons. His father, Nathan Slay, was born on a reservation in New Mexico in 1918. There was no hospital, thus records keeping was spotty at best. Needless to say, no birth certificate was issued when Nathan Slay was born. When World War II broke out, Nathan Slay flew in on his own personal plane (which he donated to the war effort) to enlist in the Army Air Corps serving as a pilot until the end of the war. Unfortunately, he was denied entry into officer school because he did not have a simple birth certificate. After returning home from the war African Americans were made to sit in the back of the bus in many southern cities and towns, Native Americans weren't even allowed to ride.
Recent years have brought some progress for recognized tribes and their members. At least officially, the return of Native American remains to their lineal descendants is now federal law, although many tribes remain landless and thus unable to accept remains belonging to them. The passage of NAGPRA in 1990 required, for example, The Museum of the American Indian, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, to establish a protocol for the timely return of remains and artifacts to the appropriate tribes. The museum is actually comprised of three facilities that incorporate Native American methodologies for the handling, documentation, care, and presentation of collections. This museum is currently in two locations, one in Washington D.C. and the other in New York City
Much work remains to be done with regard to the repatriation of Native American remains to their rightful descendents. The small bands of dedicated tribal members and the countless volunteers that have carried on the work recognize that this is the case and continue to quietly repatriate their ancestors with dignity and the respect they deserve. It is left to our local and state representatives to recognize the importance of these ceremonies and provide the appropriate recognition when invited to participate. It is time to finally recognize Native Americans and their ancestors with the dignity and respect they deserve......
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