ABSTRACT

Working with and for Ancestors examines collaborative partnerships that have developed around the study and care of Indigenous ancestral human remains.

In the interest of reconciliation, museums and research institutions around the world have begun to actively seek input and direction from Indigenous descendants in establishing collections care and research policies. However, true collaboration is difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes awkward. By presenting examples of projects involving ancestral remains that are successfully engaged in collaboration, the book provides encouragement for scientists and descendant communities alike to have open and respectful discussions around the research and care of ancestral human remains. Key themes for discussion include new approaches to the care for ancestors; the development of culturally sensitive museum policies; the emergence of mutually beneficial research partnerships; and emerging issues such as those of intellectual property, digital data, and alternatives to destructive analyses. Critical discussions by leading scholars also identify the remaining challenges in the repatriation process and offer a means to continue moving forward.

This volume will appeal to a broad, interdisciplinary audience interested in collaborative research and management strategies that are aimed at developing mutually beneficial relationships between researchers and descendant communities. This includes students and researchers in archaeology, anthropology, museums studies, and Indigenous communities.

chapter |17 pages

Introduction

Working together to do better

part 1|57 pages

Building relationships

chapter 1|11 pages

Bearing witness

What can archaeology contribute in an Indian Residential School context?

chapter 2|11 pages

Pathway to decolonizing collections of Ainu ancestral remains

Recent developments in repatriation within Japan

chapter 3|13 pages

The Brandon Indian Residential School Cemetery Project

Working towards reconciliation using forensic anthropology and archaeology

chapter 5|8 pages

Bii-azhe Ḡiiwé iná daanig (Let’s bring them home)

Lessons in humility, relationships, and changing perspectives

part 2|59 pages

Caring for the Ancestors

part 3|65 pages

Learning from the Ancestors

chapter 11|12 pages

The Journey Home

Stó:lō values and collaboration in repatriation

chapter 12|15 pages

The joy of the souls

The return of the Huron‐Wendat Ancestors

chapter 13|12 pages

Building relationships to shift accountability

Doing paleogenomic research with Indigenous nations and Ancestors

chapter 14|12 pages

Learning from Ancestors caring for Ancestors

The antiquity of reburial on Bkejwanong

chapter 15|12 pages

New insights from old dog bones

Dogs as proxies for understanding ancient human diets

part 4|50 pages

Developing conversations

chapter 16|14 pages

The digital lives of Ancestors

Ethical and intellectual property considerations surrounding the 3-D recording of human remains

chapter 17|14 pages

What next?

Changing ethical protocols for human remains in museums

chapter 18|8 pages

Provenancing Australian Aboriginal Ancestors

The importance of incorporating Traditional Knowledge

chapter 19|12 pages

Ancient human DNA

Surveying the evolving ethical, social, and political landscape

chapter |13 pages

Conclusion

The ancestors should go home: bioanthropology, collaboration, and repatriation in the twenty-first century