In 1988, a historical exhibit was removed from the University of North Dakota after several student reactions, he writes NBC News.
The exhibit contained artifacts that came from the indigenous peoples of America. It consisted of items such as pipes, hats and moccasins, soft leather shoes.
34 years later, Crystal Alberts decided to find the objects on display again. Together with colleagues, they looked into the library. It was there that they spotted some hidden cardboard boxes.
– Don’t touch it, the colleague told Alberts.
Among one hundred objects from the indigenous population, remains of human bodies were also found.
– Terrible
Professor Alberts asked for advice on how to respectfully handle such a discovery.
Board of Laine Lyons of the UND Alumni Association. Lyons was also there when Alberts and his colleagues opened box after box.
By law, institutions are required to catalog their collections and endeavor to return them to the tribal nations from which they were taken. Photo: David Goldman / NTB
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Lyons says she feels naive now looking back, but she never expected to find what they found:
More than 70 samples of human remains. Many of them in boxes with no information.
– The best way I can describe how we found things is in the most inhumane way, Lyons says.
– They just completely ignored the fact that they were once people.
The university would fail to treat Aboriginal remains with dignity, as required by federal law.
“What we have done as a university is terrible and I will continue to apologize for it,” said Andrew Armacost, president of the University of North Dakota.
Now he promises that the items will be returned.
But that process can take years. In some cases, it may be impossible due to a lack of information, Lyons says.
He fears it will be difficult to identify the parts of the body.
“Jane” reveals cannibalism among the first British colonists in America
– Extremely painful
By federal law, institutions are required to compile a catalog of the objects in their collections and to work to return them to the communities from which they were taken.
The discovery at the University of North Dakota illustrates a broader problem that has plagued indigenous communities for centuries.
The governor of North Dakota stresses the need for a national agreement. More and more people are lobbying public universities, museums and even libraries to comply with the law.
This means, among other things, documenting and returning the cultural heritage of the indigenous population.
– We apologize to our heartfelt apologies to the sovereign tribal nations of North Dakota, Governor Doug Burgum said in a statement.
– This dark chapter, although extremely painful, also offers the opportunity to increase our understanding and respect for indigenous cultures and to become a role model for the nation by conducting this process with the utmost respect for the wishes, customs and traditions of the nations tribal.
Finding out who is responsible will be part of the university’s investigation into the matter.
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