Biological samples taken from Native American Ancestors are human remains under NAGPRA.
Am J Biol Anthropol
; 181(4): 527-534, 2023 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37052272
ABSTRACT
In the United States, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) provides a specific framework for the disposition of Native American Ancestral remains within its purview. However, samples such as a bone fragment, tooth, or other biological tissue taken from the remains of these Ancestors have been treated by institutions and researchers as independent of the individual from whom they were removed and used in destructive research such as paleogenomic and other archaeometric analyses without consultation, consent, and collaboration from Native American communities; are not cared for in keeping with the current best practices for Indigenous Ancestors; and are not likely to be repatriated to their communities. Here, we demonstrate that any biological samples removed from Ancestors who are covered under NAGPRA must also be handled according to the stipulations defined for "human remains" within the legislation. As such, we are not proposing a change to existing legislation, but rather best practices, specific to the context of the United States and NAGPRA, relating to the use of and care for biological samples taken from Native American Ancestors.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Indians, North American
/
Human Body
/
Culture
/
American Indian or Alaska Native
/
Human Rights
Type of study:
Guideline
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Biol Anthropol
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: