Denver museum returns artifacts to Native American tribes

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The Denver Museum of Art has returned 40 works since 1979 to Indigenous peoples, according to its director. Most of the repatriations occurred under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA.

Museum Director Christoph Henrich explained during a presentation Wednesday that NAGPRA requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal money (including museums, universities, state agencies, and local governments) to alert all Indigenous tribes about items in the institution's collection which may belong to the tribal community, and which are human remains or other items…” Henrich said even before NAGPRA was enacted, the Denver Museum of Art had already returned some works to Indigenous tribes. He said the museum never had any Native American remains in its collection.

Heinrich made his presentation during the Business, Arts, Workforce, Climate and Aviation Services Committee of the City Council. The legislation requires that museums “must honor any requests to view items in their collections and consult with requesting tribes to establish if certain objects are eligible for repatriation. (Human remains are always eligible),” according to the presentation. “After a consultation, the tribe can formally request that an object be returned to their community. When this happens, there are specific steps an institution must take, within certain timeframes, to be in compliance with NAGPRA legislation. The formal requests set all the mechanisms of repatriation in motion.”

Museum void of Native American remains
Heinrich said the law was needed because “many museums and universities were in possession of the human remains of the Indigenous peoples of these lands and they refused to return them,” according to his presentation. “Objects were taken through coercive practices such as forced conversion to Christianity and forced acculturation, or through brutal practices such as robbing graves, taken off corpses, or raids. Under severe duress or economic hardship, Indigenous people were forced to sell family heirlooms to survive.” Heinrich said the museum never housed any Native American remains.

Heinrich said the museum has communicated with more than 620 tribal communities. Museum officials met in person for consultations with 80 organizations, he added.

According to Heinrich’s presentation, “The Denver Art Museum Indigenous Community Advisory Council continues to advise the museum and ensures our accountability to Native communities locally and across North America. The museum's Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow of Indigenous Arts of North America supports NAGPRA work, with 50% of the time dedicated specifically toward this work.”

NAGPRA legislation was updated in January 2024.

https://www.newsbreak.com/david-heitz-5 ... can-tribes