The American Museum of Natural History, located in New York City, has implemented substantial measures in reaction to recently enacted federal regulations concerning the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Consequently, the exhibition galleries of the museum that are devoted to the Eastern Woodlands and the Great Plains have been placed on temporary closure, impacting an area of approximately 10,000 square feet of exhibition space.
This measure is in accordance with the revised federal regulations that became mandatory for museums to acquire “free, prior, and informed consent” prior to displaying or conducting research on human remains or cultural artifacts, effective January 2024. The museum director, Sean Decatur, emphasized the historical context in a staff letter regarding the closures: “The halls that are being closed are artifacts from a time when museums like ours did not respect the perspectives, values, and shared humanity of Indigenous peoples.”
Established in 1990, the legislation aims to establish systematic procedures concerning the repatriation of cultural artifacts and indigenous human remains. However, loopholes in the legislation that favored institutions while imposing onerous obligations on indigenous communities have been identified by critics. As a result of the Biden administration’s efforts to accelerate the repatriation procedure, the revised regulations were completed in December.
The museum’s decision is consistent with the museum industry’s overarching trend toward fostering greater collaboration and reverence towards indigenous communities. The Field Museum in Chicago, for instance, is enduring comparable transformations. This transition signifies a growing comprehension of the responsibilities that museums have in safeguarding and representing cultural remains and artifacts.
The aforementioned closures signify a momentous juncture for the American Museum of Natural History, a preeminent establishment that garners an estimated 5 million visitors per year. In order to navigate these new requirements, the museum’s administration is consulting with attorneys and curators; many institutions are expected to employ additional personnel to comply with the law.
No timeline has been provided by the museum regarding the reopening of the reviewed exhibits. The potential non-reintroduction of certain artifacts reflects the evolving nature of museum curation and the significance attributed to the preservation of indigenous customs and cultures.