Repatriation as Reparations

Formerly colonized peoples and their governments have long sought repatriation of cultural heritage taken under the auspices of colonialism. Increasingly, states and museums are acknowledging ethical obligations to undertake such returns. 1 This essay argues that, unless combined with other measures, repatriation represents incomplete reparation of the harms caused by the loss of such heritage. But repatriation alone does serve some reparative function. It can also operate as a necessary initial step enabling further reparative measures. The U.S. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) illustrates these dynamics. 2