Native American Remains To Be Reburied

DENVER -- After three years of negotiations, the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs has received approval to rebury Native American remains being held in the Colorado History Museum.

The 37 "culturally unidentified" remains were found on public and private lands in Colorado.

Two Ute tribes argued the remains should be reburied out of respect for religious traditions.

The commission on Indian affairs needed approval for a plan to rebury the remains.

Federal law mandates consultation between tribes and museums regarding Native American artifacts in collections. It says remains should be returned to lineal descendants.

But the law did not specify what to do about remains that could not be identified. The commission worked with federal officials to develop a procedure for releasing unidentified remains.

Tribes from South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona were consulted, said Ellen Dumm, spokeswoman for Lt. Governor Barbra O'Brien.

"This process has proven that effective dialogue among tribes, museums and state agencies can yield very positive outcomes. It has set the course for future endeavors by the Colorado Historical Society," said President and CEO of the Colorado Historical Society Edward C. Nichols.