UND working to repatriate Indigenous items, human remains found on campus

(Grand Forks, ND) -- The University of North Dakota is working to return Indigenous items found on campus, including human remains.

UND leaders held a virtual conference Wednesday to address the discovery of Indigenous artifacts. The human remains are known to tribal nations as ancestors, and are believed to belong to dozens of people.

“We are heartbroken by the deeply insensitive treatment of these indigenous ancestral remains and artifacts and extend our deepest apologies to the sovereign tribal nations in North Dakota and beyond,” said Governor Doug Burgum in a statement related to the incident released to WDAY Radio. “This dark chapter, while extremely hurtful, also presents an opportunity to enhance our understanding and respect for indigenous cultures and to become a model for the nation by conducting this process with the utmost deference to the wishes, customs and traditions of tribal nations. We appreciate the deeply thoughtful, respectful approach being taken by UND and President Armacost, including their decision to reach out immediately to tribal representatives. We pledge to work with our tribal partners with understanding and mutual respect and assist wherever possible as UND and the North Dakota University System move toward ensured compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.”

A UND committee has been working since February to catalog the sacred artifacts on campus so they can be repatriated.

You can find President Armacost's full statement on the matter, and more details by clicking here.