"A bill pending in the U.S. Senate would likely hamper any further research on ancient human remains found in the United States. This would be an unfortunate result, one in which superstition and political correctness combine to thwart the drive of science to understand the facts.

Last week in the Senate, the Indian Affairs Committee approved a seemingly minor amendment to NAGPRA proposed by its chairman, retiring Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. His bill would insert the harmless-sounding words "or was" in the law. It would define as Native American any member of a tribe or culture that "is or was indigenous" to the United States.

It would mean that any human remains, no matter how old, even older than Kennewick Man, would likely be defined as part of a group that "was" indigenous to the United States, no matter how long ago, and thus covered by the law."

Get the Story:
Bill may stall bones' study (The Albany Democrat Herald 10/4)

Relevant Documents:
S.2843 | Public Law 101-601: NAGPRA | Senate Testimony | 2004 NAGPRA Report

Court Decision:
BONNICHSEN v. US (February 4, 2004)

Relevant Links:
Kennewick Man, Department of Interior - http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/kennewick
Friends of America's Past - http://www.friendsofpast.org
Kennewick Man Virtual Interpretive Center, The Tri-City (Washington) Herald - http://www.kennewick-man.com

Related Stories:
Campbell-backed bill adds two words to NAGPRA (10/1)
Battle over Kennewick Man study far from over (08/02)
Editorial: Let Kennewick Man speak! (say what?) (07/22)
Column: Kennewick Man belongs to everyone (7/21)
Tribes to seek restrictions on Kennewick Man study (7/20)
Tribes drop Kennewick Man claim in court (7/20)
Repatriation process criticized at Senate hearing (07/15)
Editorial: It's about time Kennewick Man case ends (04/29)
Tribes debate next step in Kennewick Man case (04/27)
Kennewick rehearing denied (4/21)
Court rules scientists can study Kennewick Man (02/05)
Kennewick Man battle back in court (9/8)
Tribes file opening brief in Kennewick Man case (03/19)
Appeals court asked to stop Kennewick Man tests (01/23)
Norton treads uncharted waters over remains (4/11)