In this episode of Research Matters, we explore the 2025 article Addressing Split Collections in NAGPRA Compliance by Jennifer Haas, Kevin Garstki, and Adrienne Frie. The authors examine how Indigenous Ancestors and cultural belongings from the same archaeological sites often become dispersed across museums, universities, and historical societies, creating challenges for repatriation under NAGPRA.

The discussion highlights collaborative strategies developed by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, including Tribal consultation, site-history reconstruction, shared records, and regional partnerships. Through Wisconsin-based examples, the paper demonstrates how institutions can work together to reduce burdens on Tribal Nations and support more complete and culturally responsive repatri ...