University to Begin Repatriating Native American Remains

NORTH DAKOTA – The University of North Dakota (UND) is preparing to return Native American ancestral remains and burial objects to their respective tribal nations, a significant undertaking that marks a major step in addressing historical injustices. This initiative follows years of extensive efforts in cataloging these remains and objects, and extensive collaboration with impacted tribes, alongside adhering to federal regulations.

Andrew Armacost, the President of UND, has emphasized that while this initiative is a pivotal moment, it does not signify the end of the university’s commitment to rectifying past wrongdoings against these tribal nations. The university, through its spokesperson David Dodds, has acknowledged that the identification of the tribal affiliations of these remains and objects is an ongoing process. As reported by the Grand Forks Herald, UND has so far identified and notified 49 tribes that might have cultural or geographical links to these items. The university is gearing up to commence consultations with these tribes.

This number of tribes may evolve as more information surfaces. For instance, during the consultations, a tribal representative could identify an object as belonging to a different tribe. These 49 tribes, as outlined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) documents, include tribes from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

The artifacts and remains in question have been accumulated over many years through archaeological excavations and donations to UND. Following the requirements of NAGPRA, the university initiated efforts in January 2022 to confirm that it did not hold any items that rightfully belong to tribal nations. This process intensified in February 2022 with the search for a missing sacred pipe, during which human remains were discovered.

ProPublica has been monitoring repatriation activities across American universities, museums, and government agencies. Their recent investigation revealed that for years, many institutions have not fully complied with NAGPRA. As of late December 2023, approximately 18,800 Native American ancestors have been repatriated by American institutions, a record number since the enactment of NAGPRA in the 1990s. Moreover, there have been 380 repatriation notices filed this year alone, surpassing the total for the past two years.

Besides UND, five other North Dakota entities are listed in the NAGPRA database for having submitted item summaries for repatriation to tribal owners. These include the U.S. Forest Service’s Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Bonanzaville, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, all of which submitted their NAGPRA summaries in the early 1990s.

Over three decades after NAGPRA’s enactment, more than 100,000 ancestral remains are yet to be returned by various institutions. However, 2023 marked a significant year with the repatriation of approximately 18,800 Native American ancestors, the highest since the law’s passage. UND’s role in this process is crucial, having reached out to 49 tribes potentially linked to the remains it acquired through archaeological activities and donations.

The university embarked on this quest in early 2022, aiming to ascertain whether it held any objects or remains that should be rightfully returned to tribal nations. By August 2022, the Herald reported the university’s discovery of about 250 boxes of sacred objects and remains of nearly 70 ancestors, although this was not a comprehensive inventory. This effort underscores a broader movement towards acknowledging and rectifying historical injustices, with UND playing a significant role in this ongoing process.