Center for Repatriation, Tribal Relations, and Provenance Research
Collaborating with Native American communities across the United States and Indigenous peoples around the world.
Repatriation is the process by which human remains and cultural items are returned to descendant communities and lineal descendants.
The Field Museum acknowledges respectful and expeditious repatriation of human remains and cultural items as a fundamental and necessary step to respecting and promoting the inherent rights of all peoples and to establishing and fostering relationships with communities around the world, especially Indigenous peoples. The Center for Repatriation, Tribal Relations, and Provenance Research primarily works within theNative American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and its implementing regulations for repatriation requests, but also considers requests for returns that fall outside of NAGPRA on a case-by-case basis. The Center facilitates repatriation through consultation, which includes acknowledgement and respect for sovereignty and traditional knowledge, as well as transparent communication and information sharing.
Tribal Relations
The Field Museum is committed to fostering respectful, reciprocal, and sustainable relationships with Indigenous communities, tribes, and nations through principles of collaboration, transparency, and mutual learning. Our Tribal Liaison serves as a bridge between the Museum and Native American Nations and Indigenous communities, working alongside the Native American Advisory Committee, to ensure our tribal partners are heard and supported across all aspects of the Museum’s work, from exhibitions and education to collections and repatriation.
Provenance Research
Provenance is the history of ownership of historical objects and artwork. Provenance research at the Field helps establish authenticity (Is it real?) and authorship (Who created it?) of our collections items. It also helps determine the cultural origins and contextual significance of any given item — critical to our current efforts of identification and repatriation of cultural items that were stolen or obtained unethically.
