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In a recent Science magazine article “Better Care Urged for Animal Remains Tied to Indigenous People,” author Amanda Heidt explores the growing need for ethical care and handling of animal remains with cultural significance to Indigenous communities. 

The article emphasizes the importance of proper identification, cataloging, and collaborative care to ensure these materials are treated with respect. While animal remains often fall outside the scope of the United States’ Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the article emphasizes that these remains should be treated with the same respect as human remains, as they hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples. 

The article traces the work of Chance Ward (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe & Lakota), Colorado’s NAGPRA compliance officer, alongside scholar and archaeologist Kristen Barnett (Unangax̂) and tribal historian and Elder Jimmy Arterberry (Comanche Nation). Their advocacy for more thoughtful practices highlights the importance of understanding the cultural significance of animal remains in museum collections and collaborating with Indigenous communities for their proper care and repatriation. 

Local Contexts is included in the article as a key tool to support these efforts by helping curators and Indigenous communities integrate traditional knowledge and biocultural information into digital records. This collaboration ensures ethical handling and cultural sensitivity in the care of these specimens.

Read the full article here.