Reading the bones: Information content, value, and ownership issues raised by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

Abstract

The Native American Graves Protection Act of 1990 was intended to serve as a mechanism for the repatriation of artifacts to Native American groups. As a result of its implementation, questions have arisen concerning the nature of information as embodied in objects and the moral right to access that information. The ongoing debates and resolutions of the debates prompted by the act are fertile ground for the study of information content, ownership, and value. The situation provides an opportunity to observe the interactions of a variety of cultural groups in a controlled setting. Within the framework of the legislation, the Native American, museum, and professional archaeology communities have been forced to indicate their respective beliefs concerning the nature of information, their positions in terms of the ownership of that information, and the uses to which they intend or would like to put that information. A War over Things and MeaningsThere's a war going on. As is the case in most wars, the underlying cause is the disputed possession of something valuable. However, unlike actions that are fought over the territory or the control of people, consumable goods, trade routes, or money, this is a war over the possession and control of information. Its actions are verbal and political and, sometimes, physical. Its soldiers include scientists, connoisseurs, religious leaders, and blue-collar workers. Although it would appear that winning this war is of interest only to small numbers of academicians and ethnic minority group members, the academic community as a whole. and information science in particular,