Editorial

In the only article published from the research, “Di erences Between Certain of the North American Indian Tribes: As shown by a microscopical study of their head hair,” Woodbury described texture and color di erences among the samples and noted, “When these North American Indian hair specimens were compared with Mongoloid and White (European) hair specimens, it appears that the Indian exhibits a stronger a nity toward the Mongoloid group.”

Regarding the scientifi c practice at the time the hair was collected, the museum wrote, “Much of this work was carried out to support, directly or indirectly, scientifi c racism. Descriptions and measurements of hair types were used to justify racial categories and hierarchies.”

NAGPRA regulations

Although several Native people contacted by ICT lauded Harvard for its repatriation e orts as a good start, many were critical of the process and questioned why the institution had waited so long to take action.

“The website is a good starting point; it helps us understand a little bit of the history of the researcher and the collection,” said Meredith McCoy, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribe descendant and assistant professor of American studies and history at Carleton College in Northfi eld, Minnesota.

“But there’s so much more we need to know; clearly the researcher had an extensive network of boarding school employees willing to send him samples of children’s hair without parental permission,” she said. “This type of research is deeply unethical.”

Deborah Parker, Tulalip Tribes, executive director of the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, believes that Harvard has known about the Woodbury collection for a long time.

“I believe they’ve known about it for years but just didn’t know what to do about it,” she said. “It’s so sad that institutions like Harvard would hold on to and support this type of thing.”

After the remains of 19 enslaved people of African descent were discovered in the museum’s collection, Harvard created a Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections in June of 2021. A report by the committee, leaked to media in June of 2022, states that the school holds the remains of nearly 7,000 Native Americans in its collections.

Although some of the remains fall under

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Find The Elves in Ferndale Contest

Find the Elves in Ferndale this Season! December 8th through 18th

Holiday elves FERN and FERN and DALE, are hiding throughout the city! Can you find them? throughout the city! Can you find them? Find the elves in a participating Find the elves in a participating business and receive a special gift business and receive a special gift from that Ferndale business. from that Ferndale business. Must be 10 and under to win and Must be 10 and under to win and accompanied by an adult. accompanied by an adult.

Participating Businesses

• Red Front Store • Humboldt’s Hometown Store • Chapman’s Bookstore • Golden Gate Mercantile • Sunsine & Fog • Ferndale Liquors • The Blacksmith Shop • and more!

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