– The Osage Nation anticipates progress with the repatriation of Native American remains in Illinois.
– Illinois houses the country’s second-largest collection of unrepatriated Native American remains.
– A newly introduced state law may speed up the process.
Osage’s Hope Fueled by New Illinois Law
The Osage Nation, with a significant population in Missouri and a stoic history in the Midwest, awaits good news. Illinois, housing the second-largest body of unreturned Native American remains, has been slow in ensuring their rightful return. But a new state law may catalyze the once laggard process.
A Sizeable Issue
Historically speaking, Illinois has been a significant stumbling block in the prolonged issue of Native American unrepatriated remains. The state accumulates the second-largest collection of such remains, including sacred artifacts, in the United States. For generations, these items have been stuck in the claws of bureaucracy, tucked away in museums, institutions, and private collections.
Enter A Game-changing Law
But the tides might be turning, fueling the hopes of the Osage Nation. Illinois has ushered in a new law, which, in theory, could speed up the repatriation process. While the details of how this law will work in practice remain cloudy, it promises to make Illinois less of a legal morass and more of a streamlined conduit for the return of these crucial pieces of Native American heritage.
The Breezy Take
This is a critical juncture for the Osage Nation and other Native American people with connections to Illinois. A slow march toward justice may be about to get a jumpstart, thanks to this new law. Of course, bureaucratic tape often takes time to unravel. But as we all know, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This new law might just be that first meaningful stride the Osage Nation has been patiently waiting for.
Original article: https://www.stlpr.org/culture-history/2023-08-21/illinois-passes-updated-law-to-repatriate-native-american-remains-after-years-of-neglect