And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 21:52:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Larry Kibby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Ishi's Return/Possible Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII AMERICAN INDIAN REPORTS - May, 1999 - Edition For 80 years, the Smithsonian Institute kept preserved the brain of Ishi, declared to be the last surviving member of the Yahi tribe of California. Research conducted by Nancy Rockafellar is how any manner of this important discoverey came about, but now, Smithsonian representative Thomas Killion is stating that remains can only be returned only to Federally recognized tribes, and that most of the California Tribes all fall under the Public Law 280 status. Killion, has told authorities that survivors of the Yana Indians of Northern California may be descendants of Ishi's tribe, and that the Smithsonian Institute is committed in returning the remains, only it is hoped that direct descent or cultural affiliation can be proven with the deceased. Killion has indicated that research will be completed in two months' and hopefully the remains will be returned in a respectful manner. Democract Assemblyman, Darrel Steinburg of Sacramento has told Killion to report regularly on the museum's progress. COMMENT & OPINION: by: Larry Kibby. 88 years ago, an anthropologist removed Ishi from his homeland and took him into San Fransico, to live where? In a Museum! Why? Wouldn't have taking Ishi to a reservation in Northern California been more suitable than a museum? And yes, creation of reservations was already established in Northern California, and so returning to the environment he came from, would have been more of a justified act than forcing him to live in confines such as imposed upon him. Is there any dignified reason for the act of removing Ishi's brain? Archaeology and anthropology knows no means of respect or honor. On his death-bed, Ishi requested that no autopsy be performed on him, but again, such honor and respect is not a relevant factor in the theories of science, and after Ishi was cremated, his brain was sent off to the Smithsonian, where it has been since 1916, the year of his death. Society proclaims justifed reasons for the principles, theories and philosphies of archaeology and anthropology, and the reason they give is the need to know, how the Indian lived, how he survived, and for the most part, all they had to do was ask. The science of archaeology and anthropology is based upon theories, based upon educational material brought over to this country not more than several hundred years ago, and the value structured within such science is compiled and composed of all "Non-Indian" idea's, principles and so-called facts, that even contest their christianty, another source of material brought over to this country, and for the most part, everything brought to this country has been forced upon the Indian, and for what reason? Most of the "Non-Indian" practices, such as archaeology, etc., came from countries whose principles and foundations of educational respect were built up around such properties of socialism, communism, etc., thought's, principles, theories, and philosphies structured against race and religion, and when people came through the gates of Ellison Island, they brought with them those very same edcuational respects, and from there they slowly found their way into the edcuational system, and became a tool to assist the government to distort and destroy the cultural values of the Native American Indian, however, to contest these thought's, one must have PHD, or some other master degree, because only people of edcuated respect can speak with genuine regards on these matter's, and I am not qualified to do so. I am only but a lowly Indian, therefore these comments and opinions are just mine. Archaeology and anthropology are liked by the general public at large, in that they are aides to help them continue to make a mockery of the culture, ancient customs and belief's of the Native American Indian. Thank you. =================================================== <> http://personalweb.sierra.net/~kibbey/main.html <> <> New Material is Posted Regularly <> <> "Larry Kibby", Program Director-WSHPS <> <> Elko Indian Colony, Elko Nevada 89801-2577 <> =================================================== Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
