conclusion tidbits

The speaker, a current archaeology student, believes that NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) is important for working with and respecting the ancestors of the people studied in America. They acknowledge that the problem lies in the dysfunctional bureaucracy surrounding NAGPRA. The issues with NAGPRA can only be resolved through intense discussions with Native American tribes. While there are research interests that have been affected by NAGPRA, it is ethically important to prioritize the wishes of the current relatives of those being studied. Collaboration and evaluation with Native American tribes are necessary to find a balance between respecting their traditions and allowing scientific research. Technological advancements are also needed to conduct less destructive and quicker testing. Resolving the issues with NAGPRA will take many years of discussions and advancements. Something I would like to clarify as a current archeology student is that I think NAGPRA is critical in working with and respecting the ancestors of the people we study in America. The problem isn't that it's in place or that it halts research and causes extreme complications for us, it's dysfunctional, bureaucratically. The reality is that the problems with NAGPRA are not going to be resolved without intense and heavy discussions with Native American tribes. While there are plenty of things that interest me personally, academically, that we have not been able to research because of NAGPRA, ethically and as empathetic human beings, we need to respect the wishes of the current relatives of those people first. In America, a lot of the people we study and contacts we study are not from good places. They're for people who have been displaced or ran from their homelands. It is going to take years and years of collaboration and evaluation with Native American tribes across America to come to understandings that both respect the traditions and wishes of those tribes while also allowing science to conduct. We will also need technological advances in order to do less destructive testing and quicker testing in order to not really have to move these bodies. There are a myriad of discussions and technological advances that need to take place before we can truly conduct research while simultaneously respecting the wishes of the Native Americans we are researching. It will be many, many long years before the issues with NAGPRA are ever fully resolved.