SCIT and ZCS repatriate ancestors at Nibokaan Cemetery on Dec. 18
1/15/2015 2:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

By Joseph V. Sowmick, Photojournalist

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and its Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways repatriated the ancestral human remains of one Native American from the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post #64 located in Gratiot County.

On Dec. 21, in marking their winter solstice celebration, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi will repatriate the ancestral human remains of three Native American individuals from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Lakeview Post #64 located in Ionia County. Both Tribes signed the Transfer of Possession legal documents with officials from the MSP Lakeview Post #64 on Dec. 18, 2014.

The repatriation and reburial was executed in cooperation with the Michigan Anishnaabek Cultural Preservation & Repatriation Alliance (MACPRA) and took place at the Nibokaan Cemetery in Mount Pleasant and Hummingbird Spirit Land in Athens, Mich., respectively.

Ziibiwing Center Curator and MACPRA Chair William Johnson explains where Michigan Tribes have been seen as national models of repatriation.

“From my understanding, more people across the country are appealing to their Tribal Councils for designating Tribal land just for internment of ancestors,” Johnson said.  “(Ziibiwing Director) Shannon Martin and I are in active discussion with the Tribal leaders of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi of Gun Lake.  As Tribal governments step up to this responsibility, more of our Tribal ancestors will find that eternal rest in perpetuity on their historical lands.”

Ziibiwing has been working diligently on behalf of SCIT, and in cooperation with the MACPRA, to bring home ancestors and their associated funerary objects from the numerous museums, universities and institutions across the country since the passage of the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

NAGPRA requires museums and federal agencies to inventory and identify Native American human remains and cultural items in their collections and to consult with federally-recognized Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding the return of these cultural materials to descendants or Tribes and organizations.

Johnson mentions NAGPRA, MACPRA and Ziibiwing all agree on encouraging all tribes to have repatriation cemeteries to allow those ancestors to come home in a good way, recognizing those ceremonies and our traditions associated with doing this good work.

Howard Kimewon from the University of Massachusetts-Amhurst attended the ceremony and has worked for the University of Michigan throughout the last five years and is well versed in the recent history regarding repatriation.

“I can see the joy on people’s faces where they have the opportunity to bring the ancestors back where they belong,” Kimewon said.  “It is also part of our tradition to honor our ancestors who are still in these museums or a part of an academic collection.  I remember hearing there were ancestors being used for research and being curated, but when I saw we had over 1,300 remains at the University of Michigan, I was shocked and I knew there was something we could do to get these ancestors home.”

Interim Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Sarah Hegyi informs repatriation of Native American remains is not only an illustration of historical preservation, but cultural preservation as well. 

“I can say the repatriation and reburial of the Tribal ancestral remains retrieved from Ionia demonstrates both historical and cultural preservation,” Hegyi said. “Historical preservation is observed when Native American remains are found because the ancestors are a link to our past.  They gave us the traditions we practice even now. Cultural preservation is expressed during repatriation through the customs we observe in the reburial ceremony.  We believe these customs will give the ancestors, who did not have a proper burial or perhaps their graves were disturbed, peace and rest in the spirit world at last.” 

On Oct. 14, 1971, human remains representing what was determined to be one adult male individual were removed from a gravel pit in the southwest quarter of Section #25, Bethany Township, Gratiot County, Mich. MSP took possession of the remains, complaint number 14–1865–71, and transferred them to the Michigan State University Anthropology Department for analysis.

MSU determined the remains belonged to one adult Native American male. The human remains were returned to MSP #64 in June 2013. No known individuals were identified. No associated funeral objects were present.

On Oct. 21, 1981, human remains representing, at minimum, three adult individuals were removed from a residence in the Village of Lyons, Ionia County, Mich. The homeowner discovered the human remains while digging a foundation for a house. MSP was called to investigate, complaint number 13–3138–81, and took possession of the remains and transferred them to MSU for analysis.

MSU determined the remains belonged to at least three different adult Native Americans. The human remains were returned to MSP #64 in June 2013. No known individuals were identified. No associated funeral objects were present.