Repatriation

Photo: Burke Museum
Photo: Burke Museum

Repatriation at the Burke Museum

The Burke Museum acknowledges the colonial harm that our long history of acquisition practices causes to Indigenous communities. In the past, many Native American human remains and cultural items were brought to museums with no regard to the impacts on affiliated communities.

We continue to address this colonial legacy through our ongoing collaboration with Tribal Nations and repatriation work. The Burke Museum’s Repatriation Program is guided by our staff, curators, directors, and the Native American Advisory Board to support the goals and implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA, Public Law 101-601, 25 U.S.C. Sect. 3001 et.seq.). We engage collaboratively with Native American Tribes to identify and repatriate cultural items as defined by NAGPRA, and we are diligent in implementing updates to the legal process, such as with the new NAGPRA regulations passed in January 2024.

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NAGPRA — U.S.

As required by this law, the Burke Museum provided NAGPRA Summaries to the National Park Service and relevant Tribal communities in 1993, and NAGPRA Inventories of human remains and funerary objects in 1995. The museum has updated NAGPRA Summaries, Inventories and Notices since the passage of the law, in compliance with the Future Applicability final rule and the new regulations implemented in January 2024. Completed repatriations under NAGPRA can be viewed in the US Federal Register, using “Burke Museum” as a search term. 

Non-U.S. Repatriations

All ancestral human remains and cultural items are treated with respect and care. The Museum considers repatriation to Indigenous communities or relevant government entities on a case-by-case basis. We collaborate with our State Attorney General to develop and refine our International Repatriation Policy, so we can respectfully return ancestral human remains and cultural belongings. 

 

Completed Repatriations

 A summary of completed repatriations is listed below (as of April 2024; updated annually): 

Ancestral human remains:** 573 

Funerary objects: 24,799 

Sacred objects: 8 

Objects of cultural patrimony: 8 

Ancestral human remains:

Canada: 4 

Peru: 3 

Philippines: 2 

Non-Native: 2 

 

Funerary objects:

Peru:1

*In some cases, legal transfer is completed but the Burke continues to hold items or ancestors in trust while Tribes make reburial arrangements.

**All ancestral human remains held at the Burke from the U.S. have been identified as Native American, and are therefore subject to NAGPRA.

 

Welcoming Repatriations

Our repatriation work is ongoing and is guided by both legal obligations and our institutional ethics. Consultation with Tribal Nations and international communities is a thoughtful process that offers opportunities and long-term relationships. 

The list below indicates geographic areas with identified ancestors and funerary belongings affiliated with Tribal Nations in the U.S that are awaiting repatriation from the Burke. This list (updated annually) also includes identified ancestors from other Nations. We invite further consultation about their care and access. The Burke Heritage departments also care for cultural belongings from around the world which may include sacred objects, funerary objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that have yet to be identified. If you would like to know more about which cultural belongings are housed at the Burke, we encourage you to reach out to repatriation@uw.edu. 

U.S. Ancestral Human Remains (in consultation):

Alaska

Oregon 

Washington

Southwest

U.S. Identified Funerary Objects:

Alaska

California 

Idaho 

Oregon 

Tennessee 

Florida 

Illinois 

Mississippi 

North Dakota 

Washington 

Wisconsin

Ancestral Human Remains by Nation:

Argentina 

Canada (British Columbia) Egypt 

Indonesia 

Mexico 

Peru 

Philippines 

Russia (Siberia) 

Solomon Islands 

Spain Thailand 

Tibet 

Funerary Objects by Nation:

Canada (British Columbia) 

China 

Learn more about our work

UW's Burke Museum working with Native tribes to repatriate Indigenous artifacts

KUOW Soundside podcast | February 8, 2024

Statement on the Repatriation of the Ancient One

Burke Museum | February 20, 2017

Heading Home

UW Perspectives | October 11, 2001

Land Acknowledgement

The Burke Museum stands on the lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, whose ancestors have resided here since time immemorial. Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this place — alive and strong.