Museum of Natural History Faces Criticism for Delayed Repatriation of Native American Collections

Native American organizations have criticized the New York Museum of Natural History for failing to communicate about its inventory of sacred items and human remains, despite closing relevant galleries months ago. Incoming director Sean Decatur ordered the closure of 930 square meters of exhibition space in January to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The museum's collection includes approximately 2,039 human remains and 3,884 funerary objects, according to estimates from the Association of American Indian Affairs. Also displayed were cultural artifacts like basketry, tools, weapons, and boats that may not fall under legal protection, alongside dioramas depicting traditional Native American life. While the museum claims ongoing dialogue with tribal authorities, the Association of American Indian Affairs reported that objects remain in display cases despite gallery closures. Shannon O'Loughlin, the association's chief executive and attorney, described the institution as 'among the biggest, most horrible holdouts' and 'woefully out of compliance.' The human remains, potentially obtained through grave robbing, were not publicly exhibited. Federal legislation requires institutions to either return artifacts to tribes or obtain explicit retrospective permission for display.