Tag Archives: Native American

The Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies (CAIRNS)

The Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies (CAIRNS) “is an Indian-controlled non-profit research and education center that is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of American Indian communities and issues important to them by developing quality educational resources and innovative projects that acknowledge and incorporate tribal perspectives, and by serving as a meeting ground for peoples and ideas that support those perspectives”. The site contains information on a number of research topics, links to useful sites and educational resources.

Repatriation

The U.S. Repatriation Foundation (http://www.repatriationfoundation.org/) is  described as an Intercultural Partnership: it is a “non-federally funded, not-for-profit organization committed to the repatriation of American Indian ceremonial material.” The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act “requires federally funded institutions to repatriate ceremonial material, cultural patrimony, human remains, and associated grave goods”. Although it does not apply to the private sector, it seems to have had some influence in that sector. There is no such legislation in Canada, but there are examples of successful repatriation reached through negotiation: see http://thewalrus.ca/grave-injustice/ and http://moa.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/TeachingKit-Repatriation.pdf