§80q–9 Inventory, Identification, and Return of Indian Human Remains and Indian Funerary Objects in Possession of Smithsonian Institution

Summary

The Smithsonian must work with tribal religious leaders and tribal governments to make a list of Native American human remains and funerary objects it has and to use the best scientific and historical evidence to find where they came from. The list must be finished by June 1, 1998. "Inventory" means a simple item-by-item list that, when possible, notes the likely geographic and cultural origin. If the evidence makes it more likely than not that remains or objects come from a particular tribe, the Smithsonian must tell that tribe as soon as possible. If remains are shown, by the same standard, to be of a specific person or culturally linked to a tribe, the Smithsonian must quickly return them and any related funerary items when descendants or the tribe ask. The Smithsonian must also return funerary objects taken from a known burial when the tribe asks. These rules do not stop the Smithsonian from returning items at other times, delay pending requests, or limit access to the courts or other rights. Congress authorized $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1991 and whatever money is needed later to carry out these rules and the related provisions.