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Posted on Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 11:09 a.m.

University of Michigan sets formal policy for returning remains to Native Americans

By Kellie Woodhouse

The University of Michigan has completed a formal set of regulations for repatriating Native American remains and funerary objects to qualifying tribes.

The formal rules come after a 2010 update of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, first established in 1990, that more clearly stated a museum's responsibility in returning human remains excavated from Native American graves to federally recognized tribes.

Tension had existed between the university and some Native American tribes that felt U-M was not adhering to NAGPRA. After the 2010 update, the university created a task force to formalize its repatriation process.

"This goes beyond the letter of the law," said David Lampe, communications director for the university's research operations.

U-M plans to return the remains of roughly 1,600 people and 16,000 funerary objects to Native American tribes using their new policies. Those remains and objects were excavated and studied by university archeologists and researchers over several decades. Most are stored at the school's Museum of Anthropology but are not displayed.

The policies can be found here.

This story has been updated to reflect new information.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

Arborcomment

Sat, Jan 14, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.

Any plans to include the politically incorrect dioramas in the return package?

Cassandra

Sat, Jan 14, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.

Congratulations ot U-M. More institutions should follow suit.

15crown00

Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.

what a waste of an article.

xmo

Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.

It sounds like U of M has too many remains in storage and needs to clean house!