[Aztlan] mummy of a girl

[martha noyes]

It's a matter of protocol and purpose.  If my tribe's protocol is to bring its deceased to certain kinds of ceremonies, the tribe - and its guests on occassion - display the deceased for a specific purpose and time.  If someone from another culture takes one of my tribe's deceased and puts it on display as a cultural artifact or uses it for scientific study, I and my tribe will naturally be uncomfortable (to say the least).

Although the Inca Empire is long gone, its descendants are still around.  The claim to association with ancestors is not trivial among many peoples.  Their ancestors have a daily presence, or at least a constant presence, and can be consulted, "fed," and otherwise interacted with.  Even those ancestors so far removed in time from the present that their specific lineal descendants may not be known are still ancestors.

Hope that makes it clearer, and thanks for your question.


What makes "people outside the culture" ineligible?

Especaily when the culture/society is no longer present on earth?

Hube Smith



martha noyes wrote:

There's a considerable difference between a mummy ( or bone bundle or . . .) 
being looked at within the culture and having people from outside the 
culture come to view it as a display, no matter how scientific or 
well-intentioned the display is.

My two cents
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