"...The question of how, when, and where the indigenous
     objects were obtained creates a mine-field of both
     legal and moral dimensions..."

     That was well said, and I agree completely.  The matter
     DOES require serious consideration from a variety
     perspectives.  I don't think there is a simple answer
     applicable to all cases, except perhaps that museum
     folk should/must afford indigenous people's claims the
     right to serious examination and consideration in such
     matters.  My knee-jerk reaction to your original post
     was in response to the implication that original owners
     were always still "rightful" owners.

     Even the car analogy, presuming that you sold it to me
     outright and with no liens or other encumbrances,
     doesn't always work.  In ND if a person under 21 years
     of age sells something, he/she can state they didn't
     understand the matter and re-claim the sold item (and
     return the purchase price) until they ARE 21.  We found
     that out the hard way when we accepted an artifact
     donation from a 16 year old.  She later changed her
     mind and the lawyers held that we had to return the
     item even though we'd gotten the teenager's mother to
     countersign the deed of gift.  We no longer accept
     donations from people under 21.

     Good luck.

     Chris Dill

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830    USA
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Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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