First of all I would like to say that repect for buried human remains should be a
priority and they should not be removed from their resting place to start with. Each
culture has it's own reasons , traditions and ceremonies for where and how
remains are interred and what is placed with the remains at the time of buriel.
With this belief system, disturbing and taking ceremonial or funiary objects along
with the human remains from their place of rest could interfere with the beliefs of
what that person will or would encounter in the afterlife due to this disturbance. I
agree that all Tribal and Hawian entities should be given the apropriate information
on all remains and objects being held by museums and federal agencies and the
opportunity to apply for repatriation for any of the 3 things listed above if 1. there is
a cultural link,2. if the objects were found in an area where the applying tribe lives
3. If found on federal land and no federal tribe comes forward to apply then options
should be given to non federally recognised Tribal or Hawian entities to claim the
remains and objects for proper reburiel. I also believe that no organization what
soever has the right to keep human remains in storage for decades for their own
future agenda.After decades of storage in their facilities, they have had planty of
time already to study them if they so chose. There is no excuse now to try and
deny these remains from proper re interment. All remains unidentified or
unclaimed should then be returned to the place they were taken from if at all
possible, or as close to the original site as possible along with all items recovered
with the remains such as funiary and ceremonial objects with the placement of all
as close as possible to how they were found and in the same possition to the
human remains. This situation has dragged on for 2 decades and needs to be
resolved in a timely manner by both museum and federal agensies with no loop
holes. Either return them to tribes that qualify by NAGPRA laws or return them to
the place they were dug up from in a respectful manner.
Comment on FR Doc # E7-15823
This is comment on Proposed Rule
Consultation and Dialogue On Regulations Regarding The Disposition Of Unclaimed Native American Human Remains, Funerary Objects, Sacred Objects, Or Objects Of Cultural Patrimony Excavated Or Discovered On Federal Or Tribal Lands After November 16, 1990, Pursuant To Provisions Of The Native American Graves Protection And Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
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Public Submission Posted: 11/06/2007 ID: DOI-2007-0034-0007
Dec 01,2007 11:59 PM ET
Public Submission Posted: 11/06/2007 ID: DOI-2007-0034-0008
Dec 01,2007 11:59 PM ET