Native American Repatriation Review Committee

The Native American Repatriation Review Committee was established under the National Museum of the American Indian Act (Public Laws 101-185 and 104-278). It consists of seven members appointed from nominations submitted by federally-recognized Native American tribes, and Native American, anthropological, and museum organizations. Two Review Committee members are required by law to be traditional Indian religious leaders. The Review Committee monitors and reviews the repatriation process at the Smithsonian, ensuring the fair and objective consideration of all relevant evidence in the determination of Cultural Affiliation. 

Upon the request of any affected party, the Committee may review any findings relating to the origin or the return of human remains and cultural objects. The Committee may also assist the Secretary of the Smithsonian in facilitating the resolution of any dispute that may arise with respect to the return of remains or objects. Thus, if any Native American tribe, Native Alaskan community, or Native Hawaiian organization finds that a decision of the Smithsonian regarding a specific request is unacceptable, the group or organization may request that the Committee review the matter and make an independent recommendation to the Secretary of the Smithsonian.

For most Native American communities, the graves of relatives and ancestors are highly sacred. During the colonial period, European colonists began the practice of digging up Native American graves in order to take things of value from them. In the 1800's, some Native American remains were collected from graves and battlefields by the U.S. Army for study, while others were excavated by early archaeologists. In the 1900's, as the discipline of archaeology professionalized, practitioners excavated a growing number of Native American graves, looking for the information that they contained.

Usually these activities were done without the consent of family members and descendants living in Native American communities. After excavation, Native American remains and burial objects were often put into permanent collections. By 1990, these practices had led to an estimated 200,000 sets of excavated Native American human remains in federal repositories and museums across the United States. The largest single collection, approximately 19,000 sets of human remains, was curated by the Smithsonian at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).

In 2011, the Government Accounting Office published a review of repatriation progress at the Smithsonian (GAO-11-515), finding that the process was lengthy and resource-intensive, taking an average of 2.4 years to evaluate Tribal claims. In response, the Directors of the NMNH and the National Museum of the American Indian now submit a joint Annual Report to Congress that summarizes the Smithsonian’s repatriation activities for the year. 

The Committee has proactively established the Repatriation Review Committee Travel Grant Program, funded the construction of a ceremonial room at the Smithsonian for Tribes to use when visiting collections, funded the re-housing of sensitive Native American objects at the Smithsonian, sponsored repatriation workshops, conducted a community survey, and worked to mediate two disputes arising from repatriation claims.

Past Members of the Repatriation Review Committee include:  Roger Anyon (1990-2004), Anthropologist, Tucson, AZ; Jane Buikstra (2005-2012) Arizona State University; Richard Dalton, Sr. (1997-2003), Native Village of Hoonah, AK; T. J. Ferguson (2005-2012), Anthropologist, Tucson, AZ; Lynne Goldstein (1990-2004) Michigan State University; Andrea Hunter (1990-2010) Osage Nation, OK; John Johnson (2004-2012), Chugach Alaska Corporation, AK; Ronald "Sammy" Little Owl (1997-2000), Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, ND; Roland McCook, Sr. (2003-2011), Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ouray Reservation, UT; Bonnie Newsom (2010-2018) Penobscot Indian Nation ME; Timothy Perttula (2013-2015) Archaeologist, TX; Russell Thornton (1990-2001) University of California Los Angeles; Shelby Tisdale (2009-2017) Fort Lewis College, CO; Christy Turner, II (1990-1998) Arizona State University; Phillip Walker (2003-2009) University of California, Santa Barbara; Gordon Yellowman Sr.(2003-2011) Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, OK.

The Repatriation Review Committee operates under its By-Laws and Appendix, as adopted in 2013. They convene at least twice annually to monitor and review the progress of the repatriation process at the Smithsonian, and may meet on other occasions to consider specific issues. The Review Committee has created this Repatriation Guide for Tribes and this resolution to researchers encouraging consultation with tribes.

See the current Repatriation Review Committee members and their contact information, or contact the Repatriation Review Committee Coordinator.