Harvard University’s Peabody Museum has one of the largest collections of Native American remains in the United States and is moving forward with efforts to repatriate them, along with 15 remains of “enslaved or likely to have been enslaved individuals.”
“We must begin to confront the reality of a past in which academic curiosity and opportunity overwhelmed humanity,” said Harvard President Lawrence Bacow.
Harvard’s “Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections” issued its report this fall, explaining how it plans to move forward.
Harvard alumni and students wrote Bacow criticizing the report for what they said was its glaring failure “to recognize the unique opportunity to seek reconciliation with its Indigenous community.”
The University of Minnesota has taken a step forward in efforts to repatriate Mimbres remains and cultural objects dug up by University professors and students as part of an archeological dig from 1928-1931.
It’s one of several actions the University has taken in response to a July, 2020 resolution from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) “to take swift and immediate actions to address institutional racism and improve the school’s relationship with Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribal nations.”
MIAC is a liaison to Minnesota state government for those Tribes.
Other University actions include:
Expanding tuition assistance to Native American students
Investigating claims of abusive medical research on children from the Red Lake Nation
She spent most of her time talking about the Reagan and Bush years.Her message was, even thought those were difficult times, too, advocates were still able to get major legislative wins.
Connecting the dots to today’s situation and worries about the Trump administration, she offered the following advice: “In addition to a combative strategy, have some positive goals,” she said. “You never know how powerful you are until you exercise your power.” Continue reading →