Artifacts' sale investigated
The
Advertiser
has a story
about the Interior Department investigating the attempted sale of Hawaiian
artifacts from a collection that was at least partially repatriated in a Big
Island cave, and another followup
story. The
Star-Bulletin
also has a story
on the
artifacts,
and a
background
piece on the controversy over Hui
Malama's stance on burial traditions. The
Star-Bulletin
reported
on this yesterday as well, and had a background
piece on the Emerson collection from
which the artifacts originally came (after being removed from the cave in the
first place). I would point out that
no allegations of wrongdoing are mentioned against Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i
Nei, the native organization that conducted the repatriations. Guy
Kaulukukui, a who formerly handled repatriations at the Bishop Museum, said,
"there are rumors, malicious rumors being spread to malign Hui Malama.... I
don't know of any reason not to trust that they have carried out the work that
they have said they did." And Lance Foster, director of native rights, land and
culture at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said that he had witnessed the
reburial of artifacts at Kanupa Cave in November. We'll see how this plays out
as more information is released, but I think it advisable not to jump to
conclusions.
Posted: Thu - August 12, 2004 at 12:57 PM
Hawaiian Independence Blog Culture & Misc
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