Demonstrators Demand Return of Native Art

More than 35 people gathered at the Peabody Museum yesterday to create a mural featuring colorful Native American designs and heighten awareness of what Columbus Day means to Native Americans.

Led by second-year social anthropology graduate student Bernie C. Perley, the demonstration also called for the return of museum-held Native American remains and artifacts to reservations.

The participants, many of whom were graduate students, encouraged passers-by throughout the afternoon to contribute to the mural. Perley, a Native American, said he hopes the mural will eventually be on display inside the museum.

One participant wrote, "The real discovery remains to be made--real equality--real respect for all. These are needed for a real recovery."

Another message read, "The legacy of ~'discovery:' 1492--Columbus sails; 1992--Columbus Day Sales."

Perley said the museum stores the remains of 70,000 Native Americans. He said that the return of the remains and sacred objects is necessary to establish respect for Native American religions.

Lawrence J. Flynn, assistant director of the mseum, said that one reason the return has been delayed is that the museum is bound to observe complex federal repatriation laws. He said the issue is further complicated by different tribes wanting different items from the museum.

Flynn said the museum is organizing an exhibit called "Encounters with the Americas" that focuses not only on Columbus and other explorers but also on many early inhabitants of the continent. A large part of the exhibit, Flynn said, will relate to the experiences of the early Mayans and South American natives, whom he agreed were oppressed by early European settlers.

"We agree with a lot of the sentiment thatColumbus ushered in an era repressive to thenatives," Flynn said. "We would rather stress thepossibilities for better things in the future thandwell on the atrocities of the past."

Perley said he believes museum officials aresincere in their efforts, and that the delay inreturning the items to reservations is due inlarge part to lack of congressional funds.

Another participant, third-year graduatestudent Christian T. Farrar, said the traditionalholiday celebrates the wrong historical event.

Instead of using Columbus Day to celebrateColumbus's "discovery," Farrar said the countryshould use the holiday to celebrate theconvergence of cultures that occurred in the 15thcentury.

"We agree with a lot of the sentiment thatColumbus ushered in an era repressive to thenatives," Flynn said. "We would rather stress thepossibilities for better things in the future thandwell on the atrocities of the past."

Perley said he believes museum officials aresincere in their efforts, and that the delay inreturning the items to reservations is due inlarge part to lack of congressional funds.

Another participant, third-year graduatestudent Christian T. Farrar, said the traditionalholiday celebrates the wrong historical event.

Instead of using Columbus Day to celebrateColumbus's "discovery," Farrar said the countryshould use the holiday to celebrate theconvergence of cultures that occurred in the 15thcentury.