The American Museum of Natural History announced Friday the closure of two exhibits about Native Americans, citing concerns about tribal consent.
The Manhattan Museum, the nation's most famous museum, made the decision after the federal government passed regulations requiring museums to obtain consent from tribes before displaying cultural artifacts to the public.
According to the New York Times, museum director Sean Decatur said in a letter on Friday, “The museums we are closing are the ones that museums like ours are committed to, that embrace Indigenous values, perspectives, and certainly common interests.” “This is a relic of a time when people's humanity was not respected.”
British museum returns looted art to Ghana under long-term loan agreement
The skeletal remains of a warrior discovered in Outer Mongolia in 1925 are on display at the American Museum of Natural History before being removed from public view. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
He added: “An action that feels sudden to one person may seem like a long time coming to another.”
The two canceled exhibits featured cultural artifacts from Native Americans of the Eastern Woodland and Great Plains.
President Biden's administration is expediting the repatriation of Native American remains and cultural property.
“Doctors Against Genocide'' cancels event at Holocaust Museum, apologizes after uproar: “misunderstanding''
New federal regulations went into effect this month that expedite the process outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990.
Museums, universities and other institutions are now required to begin repatriating human remains and related cultural property within five years.
A public message greets people upon arrival at Chicago's Field Museum's Hall of Ancient America and Hall of Peoples of the Northwest Coast and North Pole. (Chicago Tribune)
The major change was that tribal leaders and representatives were given broad authority to make claims and repatriation requests for museum property.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Federal regulations introduced earlier this month significantly ease the burden of proof for tribes to claim items and human remains.
Institutional curators are required to “adhere to traditional Native American knowledge of lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations” in lieu of missing historical documents.
