[Aztlan] Kennewick Man

[huehueteot at aol.com]

Susan, Fritz and Listeros:

  If there were a more poignant example of how the US legal system fails 
Native Americans when it comes to the treatment of their ancestors this 
is a prime example.

  First of all everybody should know that the Geronimo in this case is 
the Iconic Apache Holy Man who held out against the US Army until the 
1880's when he was chased and starved into surrendering. He died in 
1909 and was buried at Fort Sil OK where he was still in a semi 
confined state. Six years later George W. Bush's Grandfather, Prescott 
Bush, is reputed (by his own hand in part) to have broken into the 
mausoleum that contained his remains and removed his skull and some 
long bones as well as parts of a saddle and bridle set that were with 
the remains. These remains were boxed up and sent back to the Skull and 
Bones society headquarters called the Tomb. Even today there are 
reports that the Skull of Geronimo has a prominent place in initiation 
rituals of the society.

  The Society maintains that it is completely private and does not 
receive Federal Funds directly or indirectly and therefore does not 
come under the pervue of NAGPRA. While there is debate about the story 
of the Skull's finding, about what is actually in the case in the 
interior of the Tomb and about the Societies responsibilities under the 
law the fact that the Society will not let independent experts examine 
either the interior of the building or the skull itself outrages Native 
Americans. The level of disrespect is humongous.

  If the situation were reversed and a skull from a figure such as 
George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumsa Sherman or Robert 
E. Lee had been taken by an Indian Tribe such as the Cherokee or the 
Lakota or the Apache or Navajo the outcry would never stop. The reality 
is that Fort Sil administration refused to even examine the grave of 
Geronimo to see if the skull is missing, No one is willing to examine 
the books of the Skull and Bones Society to see if what they say about 
their status under NAGPRA is true because frankly it is too powerful to 
be subjected to such scrutiny. And the Society seems unwilling to even 
let outsiders know what is or is not in its headquarters.

  Interestingly enough there are objects that Native Americans hold that 
they do not want Outsiders to view or touch. Items such as the White 
Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe are not to be held or even viewed by people not 
a part of the Lakota Religion not just because it would affect the 
object (the Lakota believe that it would) but because the effect of it 
being handled by Outsiders would be bad for the Outsiders as well.

 Cheers,

 Hugh G. "Sam" Ball

 And remember:

 "This too Shall Pass!

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Susan Gilchrist <gilchrist.susan at gmail.com>
 To: John F. Schwaller <schwallr at morris.umn.edu>
 Cc: Aztlan <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
 Sent: Wed, 10 May 2006 14:36:28 -0700
 Subject: Re: [Aztlan] Kennewick Man

 Still it must be tough for the university since they're
 also training students to solve all kinds of problems. The
 following is a 2006 Yale summer course.
 Susan Gilchrist

 Forensic Anthropology

 KATIE BINETTI AND JOSEPH FERRARO

 ANTH S-123 30175 GROUP III SO

  Hands-on introduction to forensic anthropology, using laboratory 
training,
  lectures, and case studies. Introduction to basic skeletal anatomy and 
to
  the use of recovered skeletal materials to assess a deceased 
individual's
 age, sex, height, ancestry, time of death, bone trauma, and disease.
  Additional topics include techniques for recovering human skeletal 
remains,
  reconstruction of faces, genetic identification, and medicolegal 
contexts of
 forensic anthropology. No prerequisites.

 SESSION A: M,W,F 3.30-5.45 / 1 CREDIT / TUITION: $2,200

 On 5/10/06, John F. Schwaller <schwallr at morris.umn.edu> wrote:
 >
 > At 07:20 PM 5/9/2006, Susan Gilchrist wrote:
 > >. It seems like a question of whether 1) there's a skull
 > >in the Yale fraternity, 2) it's an old guy, and 3) it's Harlan
 > >Geronimo's relative.
 >
 >
 > It's not just any fraternity, it is a private club of which our
 > President, George W. Bush, was a member: Skull and Bones. In
  > fairness I should point out that John Kerry was a member also, not 
to
 > mention some other rather famous Yalies.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > John F. Schwaller
 > President
 > SUNY Potsdam
 > schwaljf at potsdam.edu
 >
 > Until 6-30-06:
 > University of Minnesota, Morris
 > 600 E 4th Street
 > Morris, MN 56267
 > 320-589-6015
 > FAX 320-589-6399
 > schwallr at morris.umn.edu
 >
 >
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