The Treatment of Human Remains on Navajo Lands

Recent key federal and tribal legislation often has proved inadequate for dealing with human remains. Because of this the Navajo Nation, in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has developed a policy establishing a working set of procedures for cultural resource managers and developers to follow in the identification, verification, and ultimate disposition of human remains on Navajo Tribal Trust land. These procedures attempt to address legal and human concerns of next of kin, local residents, the Navajo Tribe as a whole, and the federal government. The policy does not expressly advocate the scientific study of human remains prior to or instead of reburial, but this alternative is allowable under the policy, given the acquisition of appropriate consent. This paper discusses the procedures (formally adopted by Navajo Tribal Resolution) along with suggestions for their modification for use elsewhere and under other circumstances.