Native American remains reburied in Black Hills

CUSTER, S.D. (AP) -- The bones of at least four Native Americans that have been in the hands of museums and collectors for decades were buried Monday in the Black Hills National Forest.

The remains were re-interred under provisions of the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act at a spot chosen years ago by Lakota holy man Frank Fools Crow.

"We think they should no longer be moved around the country and exploited," said Donovin Sprague, of First Nations Heritage Association.

The mission of First Nations Heritage is to promote educational and cultural events that promote American Indian interests. This is the first repatriation of Indian remains to the sacred Black Hills that his nonprofit organization has handled, but Sprague said there are grave sites throughout the area.

The bones, which Sprague originally believed belonged to one person, came into his possession a year ago. He worked with the South Dakota Archaeological Research Center and the U.S. Forest Service to get them scientifically identified and re-interred.

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