MDAH Repatriates Native American Ancestors in Continued Commitment to Tribal Partners
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has repatriated the remains of 95 Native American Ancestors and 1,500 lots of funerary objects to the Chickasaw Nation from sites across northern Mississippi.
“We continue to work closely with Tribal representatives and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation ACT (NAGPRA) in our commitment to the repatriation of Native American Ancestors and cultural objects currently held in the care of MDAH,” said Katie Blount, director of the state agency. “We are grateful to the Chickasaw Nation for their partnership and consultation during this important process.”
Throughout the process of repatriation, MDAH prioritizes transparency, respect, and connection to the original inhabitants of Mississippi lands. In 2021, MDAH transferred the remains of 403 Native Americans and 83 lots of burial objects to the Chickasaw Nation.
Since the 19th century, archaeological excavations have unearthed hundreds of the ancestral remains of people who once inhabited the state and whose cultures, languages and traditions continue today. The passage of NAGPRA gave Native populations the right to claim ancestors and cultural objects in the care of institutions receiving federal funds.
Amber Hood of the Chickasaw Nation said: “These ancestors are not just numbers or statistics; they are family members who were loved and grieved at the time of their death. We maintain a spiritual connection to the people that came before us. Working on NAGPRA cases takes an emotional toll, but it is up to us to advocate on their behalf. The Chickasaw Nation remains committed in our pursuit to repatriate and respectfully rebury our ancestors’ earthly remains. We appreciate that MDAH shares that same goal and has committed to their Repatriate Mississippi Initiative.”
For more information email info@mdah.ms.gov. Learn more about NAGPRA at www.nps.gov/nagpra and nagpra.mdah.ms.gov.