Very Good News! (Onondaga Nation)

[H2O Man]

Ancient remains to resume journey
State Museum to yield 1,000-year-old bones to Onondaga Indian Nation


ALBANY — After a dispute that dragged on for years, the State Museum will repatriate 1,000-year-old bones of 180 Native American people in its collection to the Onondaga Indian Nation as early as next month. ….

The skeletal remains will be placed in plain pine boxes and sent to a burial ground behind a longhouse on the Onondaga Reservation south of Syracuse, and re-buried

A federal review panel ruled in favor of the Onondaga tribe last fall as part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Act. ….

The dispute dragged on because the State Museum holds nearly 900 ancient human remains in storage. Scientists want to be careful about setting a precedent for what happens to the rest of their archaeological holdings, even though most of the bones are not actively studied.

The remains in dispute were unearthed in the late 1960s during construction of Route 17, about 60 miles from today's Onondaga reservation. …..

More at:http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=776974&category=&BCCode=


Note: I worked for many years on burial protection and repatriation with the late Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman. DUers may recall some of the quotes from interviews with Paul that I have previously posted here, including his thoughts on the connection between the reburial ceremonies and the environmental protection efforts of the larger society. I am happy to see this news, which was shared with me by Paul and my good friend Bonnie.

[annabanana]

1. This is good news.

I'm glad for the tribe. The remains should never have been disturbed.

[H2O Man]

4. Thank you.

And you are right: they never should have been dug up to begin with.

[Spazito]

2. That IS great news!

Thanks, H2O Man, for posting this. It has been a long fight for sure.

[H2O Man]

5. Yes.

It has been a long, long struggle, and it continues today. The curious thing is, that while Onondaga "won," no one "lost."

[IndyOp]

3. Thank you H20 Man for your work on behalf of the ancestors.

There is so much in our society that is out-of-touch with the Great Spirit.

Each action that reconnects us contributes to the Great Turning. I believe we are turning.

[H2O Man]

6. We are tuning.

And that's a good thing.

[bigtree]

7. Congratulations!

What a long battle for the remains.

[H2O Man]

8. Thanks!

It's interesting to note that, in general, the state of PA has been more progressive than NYS in dealing with Onondaga on these issues. But, there are some younger folks in NYS that are far more open-minded than those that Paul and I dealt with in the past.

[bigtree]

10. that's good

. . . the younger folks helping to complete the journey.

[bleever]

9. Congratulations.

I hope the descendants of Geronimo will soon also see success in retrieving the remains of Geronimo (or his fellow Apache, if they aren't actually his).

[H2O Man]

11. Thanks.

The case involving Geronimo (with a small possibility that it is another Apache) poses other problems. The federal law covers those groups/institutions that get federal funding, such as the larger public museums and universities. The Skull & Bones "club" isn't covered, as it is not an official university "club." More, at the time the creeps robbed the grave, it was not illegal to dig an Indian's grave in the USA. But I think they have a strong case for the court, which can be strengthened by public support.

[rosesaylavee]

20. NPR just now aired a segment talking about the lawsuit

that Geronimo's descendants are pursuing against Yale, Skull & Bones, the Oklahoma location where they were stolen from originally and the US Govt to get his remains returned.

[Lochloosa]

12. Outstanding!

:toast:

[spanone]

13. i heard on npr this am that 'skull & bones' may have some of geronimo's remains

truly strange

[H2O Man]

14. Thank you!

It really is great news.

[myrna minx]

15. This is wonderful news. Vine Deloria Jr truly opened my eyes to

the hard struggle to return rightful remains to the respective tribes. Congratulations.

[H2O Man]

16. It was the work

of people from past generations that made the successes of today possible. Even the work of men like Vine and Paul built upon the work of others (in Paul's case, his mother's family). I can remember decades ago, being told that I shouldn't expect to see the results from my efforts in my own lifetime .... that it was most likely going to produce results after I "retired" from here. That's part of a consciousness that is different from today's society, where people are cut off from everything except the here and now.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended. That is good news.

Thanks for thread, H2OMan.:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

18. Very good news.

K&R

[G_j]

19. that is great!

K&R

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Good to hear.

Congratulations and also thank you.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Excellent news. Kick and rec! n/t

[KoKo]

23. Very good news, indeed. May they have peace back in their nation...

and may we all rest easier with one more stain on what we've done to native peoples getting just a little smaller

[OneGrassRoot]

24. This is wonderful...truly wonderful. Thank you....

for your hard work and for letting us know the good news. :)

[seemslikeadream]

25. That's wonderful

[ClayZ]

26. Good News!

K and R

[SalmonChantedEvening]

27. May their journey go on forever my friend.

:hug:

This is indeed wonderful news.

K&R

[Me.]

28. K & R

[havocmom]

29. One might envision quiet, satisified nodding

of ancient souls.

Good work, H2O Man. Awareness is key to any victory.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

30. what you said...

says what I felt.

[Kajsa]

31. This is wonderful news!

The remains belong to the Onondaga Indian Nation,
not a museum.

:kick: and R.

[zeemike]

32. I hope this is just the first step

In returning dignity to the Native Americans people.
There is still much to be done, but congrats to you Mr. Waterman.

[Me.]

33. A Kick

For Dignity

[Cha]

34. Cool, H20 Man!

Native American bones back to people.