Having read, rather cursorily, through the large number of contributions 
on this matter, I wonder if it isn't time to take a more positive view of 
repatriation/return of cultural property.

Without simply referring to monetary values and the suggestion (often made 
here with reference to the Parthenon marbles) that the seller had no right 
to sell and that the 'ordinary' national still has the right to object to 
her/his heritage being sold by anyone, surely there are good reason for 
negotiation over cultural objects.

If we seek to possess these items, surely this is because they illuminate 
and elicidate the culture from which they came. In the discussions in 
Glasgow over the return of the Lakota Ghost Dance Shirt (see 
http://www.sdhistory.org/mus/mus_nagp.htm) the opportunity was taken with 
the descendants of the original 'owners' to gain much valuable extra 
information and the constructive relationship between the museum and the 
Wounded Knee Survivors Association will continue to be productive.

The action of Glasgow Museums Director Mark O'Neill is, unfortunately, 
still unusual, but sooner or later, museums have to stop simply resisting 
and enter into discussions whether or not this leads to return of objects. 
At the moment, the British Museum et al are, of course, afraid of opening 
the flood gates. I assume the same is true in the USA, but in the end, 
there is more to be gained than lost.

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