In a surprising move, the American Museum of Natural History has closed down major exhibition halls and display cabinets dedicated to Native American artifacts to adhere to newly implemented federal regulations. Shocking photos revealed empty and covered up areas in the Eastern Woodlands and Great Plains halls, leaving visitors taken aback.

Museum director Sean Decatur informed staff of the changes in a letter on Friday morning. He acknowledged that these closed halls represented a time when museums did not respect the values, perspectives, and shared humanity of Indigenous peoples. As a result, nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibition space will be off-limits to visitors until further notice.

Unfortunately, the museum could not provide a specific timeline for when the revised exhibits would reopen, leaving visitors and enthusiasts with a sense of uncertainty. Decatur shared that some objects may never return to display as a result of the consultation process. However, the museum aims to create smaller-scale programs throughout the facility to explain the ongoing process.

These alterations are in response to recent federal regulations tied to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Passed unanimously in 1990, the law aimed to establish protocols for the return of indigenous human remains, funerary objects, and cultural heritage items to recognized tribes. Many of these items were seized without consent or excavated without regard for tribal traditions.

Over the years, critics argued that NAGPRA had loopholes that favored institutions over native tribes. In light of this, the Biden administration has pushed for a faster repatriation process, leading to revised regulations announced by the Department of the Interior in December. These new regulations emphasize "required free, prior and informed consent" for the exhibition, access, and research on human remains or cultural items.

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland expressed the importance of NAGPRA, stating that the changes to the regulations are overdue and will strengthen the enforcement of the law. The revisions also give more authority to tribes and provide institutions with a five-year preparation timeframe for the repatriation of human remains and related objects.

While the American Museum of Natural History undergoes the necessary steps to comply with the new regulations, similar changes are happening in other museums across the country, including the Field Museum in Chicago. However, due to its high annual visitor count of approximately 5 million, the impact of these changes at the American Museum of Natural History may be more widely noticed.

Museum leaders have been consulting legal experts and additional curators as they work towards compliance. Additionally, many institutions will be hiring staff to meet the requirements set forth by the revised regulations.

The decision to remove Native American objects from display has not come without some pushback. The Society for American Archaeology expressed concerns that the stipulations were interfering with museums' collection management practices. Additionally, there is apprehension among tribal leaders who worry about the potential overwhelming influx of requests from museums.

As the conversation surrounding the repatriation of Native American remains and artifacts continues, museum leaders and tribal representatives hope for a fruitful dialogue that respects the sacred cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples. The changes in the American Museum of Natural History symbolize a shift towards inclusivity, acknowledging the need for museums to reflect changing ideas and values.