Letters to the Editor
Honolulu Advertiser
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
'GLOBAL VIEW'
IT'S UP TO HAWAIIANS TO DECIDE ON ARTIFACTS
Hawaiians, though they supposedly bore a "far more sophisticated and comprehensive worldview" than the early missionaries, are less aware these days, it seems. Forgive us for not being "global" enough in our scope when we, along with other aboriginal peoples, especially in North America, oppose having the remains of our ancestors desecrated by the museums of the enlightened.
Perhaps we who possess a living culture, having always found it difficult to accept the atrocities of 20th-century relic hunters, should now let the "globe" decide on what pieces of that living culture continue on into the future?
Please do not speak for our ancestors when it comes to "listening" to cultural objects that "provide eloquent testimony" while turning your back on the people who represent that living culture. Maybe some of us in this living culture are not quite ready for your museum or your spin on Hawai'i nei. This is the real issue, not whether Hawaiians can unite or agree on everything.
Makua Keale
KailuaHUI MALAMA
WHERE WERE OTHERS WHEN BATTLE JOINED?
From 1995 to 2000, we worked closely with Edward Ayau and Hui Malama in the identification of the ancient Chamori remains, stored in shoeboxes at the Bishop Museum. The Hornbostel Collection of 311 sets of human remains and thousands of artifacts were taken from our Islands between 1919 and 1921 under the guise of research.
In January 2000 and with the assistance of Mr. Ayau and Hui Malama, we were successful in securing and repatriating those remains back to Guam and Saipan.
Mr. Ayau and Hui Malama have been the forefront heroes in the Hawaiian iwi issue. They have championed the cause of the Hawaiian ancestors from the get-go.
Where were these other claimants when Hui Malama was fighting for the inclusion and recognition of Native Hawaiians in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act? Where were these claimants when Hui Malama was fighting to secure the repatriation of Hawaiian remains and sacred artifacts from the Museum of Natural History in Chicago? And many more significant repatriation efforts.
Similarly as with our ancient Chamori belief system, the greatest Hawaiian taboo of all is the disturbance of the sacred resting place of our dead. Remain steadfast, Mr. Ayau. Your cause is a sacred religious order.
Norbert Perez
President, Bring Our Ancestors Home FoundationOriginal article URL: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/11/op/FP601110321.html/?print=on
