Very Old Bones Returned to Tribes
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AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service
This photo shows casts of the ancient human remains, including vertebrae, ribs, teeth, a
jaw, and a pelvic bone, that were found in a cave in Alaska in 1996. The quarter in the
center shows the size of the bones.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Achieve3000, December 5, 2007). Eleven
years ago, ancient human remains were found inside an Alaskan cave
during a U.S. Forest Service archaeological survey, and now, the
federal government is ready to hand over the remains to the southeast
Alaska Tlingit tribes, the bones' rightful owners. It will be the first
time a federal agency has returned such an ancient find to an
indigenous group.
Vertebrae, ribs, teeth, as well as a mandible and a pelvic bone, were
among the remains found inside the On Your Knees Cave in Tongass National Forest in 1996. The
area is the aboriginal homeland for the Tlingit tribes—when the remains were discovered, the Forest
Service immediately consulted with area tribes, as required by the 1990 Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act, which directs government agencies to return Native American
remains and cultural items to tribes.
There was never any dispute that the remains should go to the Tlingit tribes, but the tribes agreed to
leave the remains in the custody of the U.S. Forest Service so that researchers could study them.
Some tribal members initially balked at allowing the study to be done instead of having an immediate
burial, but in the end, these people backed the study after determining that the remains had been
scattered in the cave—possibly by scavengers—and had not been taken from a burial site.
The tribes said that they wanted to support knowledge and learning by allowing scientists to study the
remains of their ancestors, according to anthropologist Rosita Worl, president of Sealaska Heritage
Institute, the nonprofit cultural and educational arm of the Alaska Native Corporation.
"The elders also saw [sharing the remains] as a way of validating our ancient presence here in
southeast Alaska," said Worl, a Tlingit tribe member, adding, "A number of elders have said it proves
we've been here since time immemorial."
Through a lengthy process that included DNA and other testing, researchers found that the bones
were indeed ancient. In addition, they found that the remains belonged to an indigenous man in his
early 20s who lived primarily on seafood.
The find also included some stone tools made of obsidian, or volcanic glass, the presence of which
surprised researchers, since obsidian is not naturally found in the area. It suggests that early residents
used boats to get around the coastal region, an idea that supports oral histories among the Tlingit
tribes about coastal migrations.
"We're very, very excited and very proud of our people," said Worl.
For Sherry Hutt, the repatriation program manager for the National Park Service, what stands out
about the Tlingit case is the level of cooperation involved.
"The Forest Service went through the process carefully and methodically. It consulted with the locals
and came to a decision based on analysis of the facts," Hutt said. "The process of consultation
enhances the body of knowledge. This is a good example of it."
Worl agreed, saying, "I think ours is a really good example of what can be accomplished when
scientists and federal agencies recognize the legal rights of native people. They're professional with
them, [and] they're sensitive with them. They're equal with them."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Dig Deeper
You read about ancient bones belonging to the Tlingit people. The Tlingit people are Native
Americans who began living in southeastern Alaska long before Europeans got there. This area is
along the Pacific Ocean and is covered in forests. It's temperate—not very cold—and gets plenty of
rain. For this reason, there are many plants and animals there.
Traditionally, the Tlingit people were hunter-gatherers. They hunted and fished for their food. They
built large wooden houses. Each house was home to more than one family. Some families were seen
as more important because they were wealthy or their ancestors had done important things. The heads
of the most important families became leaders in the community. Tlingit people gained their wealth
by trading fish oil, shells, and baskets. They traded with other tribes, and later, with Europeans.
The T-lingit people had ceremonies. One type was called a "potlatch," and its purpose was often to
remember the dead. The people sang, danced, and ate feasts. They asked the dead to help them
continue to find food and heal the sick. An important part of the potlatch was for the host family to
give away goods to others.
Today, many Tlingit people still live in villages. They try to keep living the way their ancestors did.
Others live a more modern life.
Dictionary
aboriginal (adjective) original or earliest known; native
host (adjective) having to do with a person or place that is having visitors
indigenous (adjective) originating naturally in a region
mandible (noun) the bone of the lower jaw
repatriation (noun) the act of sending something or someone back to the country or community of origin
traditionally (adverb) in a way having to do with what has been done for a long time
Very Old Bones Returned to Tribes
Activity
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1. What is this article mainly about?
The law that requires government agencies to return Native American remains and
cultural items to tribes
The struggle to pass a law requiring government agencies to return Native American
remains and cultural items to tribes
The return of a set of Native American remains to a tribe after careful scientific study
The search for a set of Native American remains said to originate with the Tlingit tribe
2. What cause and effect relationship is described in this article?
Officials discovered remains originating with the Tlingit tribe, and tribe members agreed
to serve as expert consultants in the investigation that followed.
Officials discovered remains originating with the Tlingit tribe, and tribe members
demanded that the remains be buried immediately.
Officials asked members of the Tlingit tribe whether they could study some remains and
artifacts, and the tribe members went to court to pass legislation protecting such remains from scientific
intrusion.
Officials asked members of the Tlingit tribe whether they could study some remains and
artifacts, and the tribe members agreed to allow it in the interest of scientific advancement.
3. Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?
The scientists studied some ancient remains found in Alaska and then returned them to the
Tlingit people.
The Tlingit remains had been scattered in the cave, possibly by scavengers.
The Tlingit remains included vertebrae, ribs, teeth, as well as a pelvic bone.
The scientists included the president of the nonprofit cultural and educational arm of the
Alaska Native Corporation.
4. The article states:
"The Forest Service went through the process carefully and methodically. It consulted with the
locals and came to a decision based on analysis of the facts," Hutt said. "The process of consultation
enhances the body of knowledge. This is a good example of it."
Which would be the closest synonym for the word methodically?
Erratically
Momentarily
Meticulously
Erroneously
5. Which event had not yet taken place when this article was written?
The government had passed legislation directing government agencies to return Native
American remains and cultural items to tribes.
The U.S. Forest Service consulted with area tribes to determine whether researchers could
study the Tlingit remains.
Members of the Tlingit tribe had received the remains of the ancient man after the bones
were in government custody.
Members of the Tlingit tribe had agreed to allow scientists to study the remains of an
ancient Tlingit man.
6. Which of these is a statement of opinion?
The federal government discovered the remains of what is believed to be an ancient
Tlingit man in a cave in Alaska.
The federal government did not disturb a burial site but instead found the remains
scattered inside a cave.
The federal government recognized the legal rights of the Tlingit tribe by asking tribe
members for permission to study the ancient remains.
The federal government should be required to consult Native American tribes before
conducting studies on ancient Native American remains.
7. Which is the closest synonym for the word aboriginal?
Indigenous
Ethereal
Transient
Coherent
8. Which of these statements is contrary to the ideas presented in the article?
Some Tlingit tribe members believe that the discovery of the remains validates their
belief that they have been in Alaska since ancient times.
The Tlingit tribe was consulted as the government researchers investigated the remains
of the ancient man.
Most Tlingit tribe members continue to believe that the remains of the ancient man
should have been buried immediately after they were discovered.
The Tlingit man's remains show that he lived in ancient times and subsisted mostly
on seafood.