Repatriation of Indian Human Remains Efforts of the Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution holds a large number of Indian human remains and culturally significant objects as part of its museum collections. These human remains and objects have long been a concern for many Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities, who have been determined to provide an appropriate resting place for their ancestors. In 1989, the National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAI Act) was enacted, in part to address these concerns. This book is a study of the Smithsonian Institution's efforts to repatriate Indian human remains, with a focus on ways to expedite the process and recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO reviewed museum records, including 171 repatriation case reports, and interviewed the Smithsonian, the Repatriation Review Committee, and tribal officials.