The Biden administration's latest regulation has led to the indefinite closure of two renowned exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
Following the expansion of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), museums must obtain consent from indigenous peoples' descendants “before allowing any exhibition of, access to, or research on human remains or cultural items.”
From American Wire:
As a result, AMNH director Sean Decatur notified staff in a letter Friday, later made public, that the Hall of Eastern Woodland and the Hall of Great Plains at the nearly 155-year-old museum would be closed to visitors and employees.
“The halls we are closing are vestiges of an era when museums such as ours did not respect the values, perspectives and indeed shared humanity of Indigenous peoples,” said Decatur. “Actions that may feel sudden to some may seem long overdue to others.”
In addition to the shuttered exhibits, three cases outside the Woodlands Hall, two cases in the Mead Hall of Pacific Peoples, and two cases in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall would be covered to abide by the regulations.
Reacting to the sudden closure, 60-year-old Dan Shoop from Hell's Kitchen told the New York Post, “People come here to learn and see the displays. If it's not on public display, it robs the people of a chance to learn about a culture of great historic importance to this country.”
The Hall of Eastern Woodlands was a popular destination for local social studies classes. Both students and teachers appreciated the historical accuracy of its portrayal of the interactions between native and European civilizations.
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