Repatriation to Indigenous groups is more than law, it's human rights an archaeologist describes the day that lesson hit home

The article discusses the growing importance of repatriation in archaeology, focusing on returning ancestral remains and artifacts to Indigenous communities as a human rights issue. Following the enactment of the National Museum of the American Indian Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, there remains a significant number of ancestors still in collections. While some archaeologists initially worried about losing research access, many have recognized that repatriation can strengthen relationships with Indigenous peoples and contribute to healing historical traumas.

"Repatriation laws have served as a partial remedy for the historical trauma of those peoples."

"While repatriation requirements limit research, they have improved aspects of archaeologists' relationships with Indigenous communities."

Read at The Conversation