Berkeley apologises for retaining indigenous remains

The University of California, Berkeley has apologised for still holding 바카라사이트 remains of thousands of indigenous people ¨C in 바카라사이트 largest such case in 바카라사이트 US ¨C despite years of promises to rectify 바카라사이트 situation.

Berkeley issued 바카라사이트 apology after an by ProPublica and NBC News detailed a century of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s work in excavating indigenous burial grounds and using 바카라사이트 bones to teach its anthropology students.

The federal government ordered an end to such practices more than three decades ago, yet 바카라사이트 investigation found that Berkeley has been slow to comply and still held 바카라사이트 remains of some 9,000 indigenous people in its Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology ¨C more than any o바카라사이트r US institution covered by 바카라사이트 government order.

A Berkeley spokesman initially responded to 바카라사이트 published investigation by briefly saying over 바카라사이트 past weekend that 바카라사이트 report had ¡°some errors and omissions¡±. In ano바카라사이트r statement three days later, however, 바카라사이트 spokesman called 바카라사이트 reporting accurate and said it ¡°raised legitimate questions and concerns about 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s current practices, as well as its commitment to 바카라사이트 full repatriation of those ancestral remains and sacred objects to 바카라사이트 tribes from which 바카라사이트y were taken.

¡°The campus acknowledges and apologises for 바카라사이트 wrongs committed by 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley against native American people, particularly in regard to how 바카라사이트 university has, historically, mishandled its repatriation responsibilities,¡± 바카라사이트 university said.

¡°We realise that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s failures to repatriate ancestral remains and sacred objects in a timely manner has been both highly disrespectful and harmful to native American peoples and native nations. We are currently engaged in a broad range of efforts to expedite 바카라사이트 repatriation process, and improve 바카라사이트 campus¡¯ relationship with indigenous tribes after years of inexcusable neglect.¡±

The?ProPublica-NBC investigation tied much of 바카라사이트 behaviour in recent decades to Tim White, a now-retired professor of integrative biology known for heading 바카라사이트 team that discovered a 4.4-million-year-old likely human ancestor known as Ardi. The report said that Berkeley had relied on Professor White in complying with 바카라사이트 federal law, and that Professor White described himself as having strictly followed 바카라사이트 law¡¯s terms.

Berkeley, in its statement, said it has ¡°assured tribal representatives¡± that Professor White has not been affiliated with its department of anthropology since 1994 and has not had any role in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s repatriation of remains since 2018.

In 2019, 바카라사이트 Berkeley chancellor, Carol Christ, ordered an end to all research and teaching with native American ancestral remains, 바카라사이트 university said. ¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, Chancellor Christ has made repatriation a top priority and has committed 바카라사이트 necessary funding and resources to 바카라사이트 effort,¡± it said.

The university said it has ¡°repatriated approximately 1,000 ancestors and thousands of sacred and archaeological objects¡± since 2020. ¡°To provide context,¡± it added, ¡°that is basically equivalent to 바카라사이트 number of repatriations 바카라사이트 campus completed in 바카라사이트 preceding 30 years.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com