Repatriation at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is committed to the principles of respect, reciprocity, justice, and dialogue to address any and all claims for repatriation
DMNS is committed to facilitating collections access for the originating and descendant communities whose belongings we steward. As such, the Museum continues to prioritize repatriation—or the return of collection items—to lineal descendants and communities of origin. While the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a federal law passed in 1990 and revised in 2024, provides the legal framework for repatriations to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Organizations, the Museum is likewise committed to repatriations that fall beyond the law’s purview. Whether repatriation occurs nationally or internationally, the Museum will continue to defer to the legal and governing practices of the community of origin as we seek to honor cultural protocols in all phases of our work.
To submit a request for repatriation, please contact [email protected]. A member of our staff will respond with the requested information and begin the initial consultation process, which can occur virtually or in person.
Links to NAGPRA