The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the Controversy of the Kennewick Man
Number of pages:
7
ABSTRACT:
This is a 7 page paper discussing NAGPRA and the controversy over the Kennewick Man. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed in 1990 which outlined the conditions for the repatriation of Native American remains and artifacts from archeological projects, museums and agencies. Since it was passed, a great deal of controversy has surrounded the act especially in the case of the Kennewick Man. The Kennewick Man was a 9,300 old skeleton found near the Columbia River in Washington in 1996. Following the guidelines of the act, the Department of the Interior wanted to hand over the remains to a nearby Native American tribe without scientific examination. Archaeologists brought the case to court using the argument that not only was the find critical to the development of the theories of migration in North America but also there was evidence that the Kennewick Man was not even of Indian origin. Overall, anthropologists and scientists believe that NAGPRA was made out of political considerations for the Native Americans but elevates the religious beliefs of Native Americans over those of other Americans, making it a violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution and disregarding the field of science.
Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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File: D0_TJNAGPR1.rtf
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