s02e05: "Bury Them with Dignity" (NAGPRA p. II)

Challenging Colonialism

Part 2 in this 3-episode series continues our broad focus on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). As always, thank you to the guests who gave their time and shared their stories. This episode includes significant discussion of how ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred items, and objects of cultural patrimony have been collected in the past, continue to be disturbed in the present, as well as the process of repatriation and reburial. This is an extremely sensitive topic, but a very important one that deals with basic human rights and respect, or the lack thereof, and we want to make this clear up front. This topic understandably may be triggering for some. You will hear people discussing in detail the ways in which their ancestors’ bodies have been and continue to be mistreated. Please take care while listening.

Speakers:

Gregg Castro

Sabine Talaugon

Dr. Brittani Orona

Dr. Anthony Burris

Dr. Vanessa Esquivido

Cindi Alvitre

Desireé Martinez

Additional Reading:

To share Native American culture and history the right way, artifacts should always be returned to tribes, San Diego Union Tribune, November 2022

UCSB out of compliance with state, federal laws for decades; works to return Native remains, Daily Nexus, March 2023

How to Report on the Repatriation of Native American Remains at Museums and Universities Near You, Pro Publica, February 2023.

UC Riverside slow to return Native American artifacts to tribes audit

Challenging Colonialism is produced by Daniel Stonebloom & Martin Rizzo-Martinez. All interviews by Martin, all audio engineering and editing by Daniel. All music by G. Gonzales. The title of this episode comes from Brittani Orona.

This podcast is produced with support from California State Parks Foundation.