Judge Caputo (Mid. Dist. Penn.) entered an order granting a complete summary judgment in favor of Bill and Richard Thorpe and the Sac and Fox Nation in the litigation to repatriate the remains of Jim Thorpe pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
The judge concluded that NAGPRA applies to the remains of Jim Thorpe and to the Borough, and he also ruled that the passage of time between the enactment of NAGPRA and the filing of this case did not prevent a repatriation. This is a very significant ruling under NAGPRA, and it should be helpful to tribes in the future because it addresses and rejects some so-called defenses to NAGPRA that could be used to impede repatriation efforts.
Update w/ materials:
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