This map does not claim to be neutral. Mapping is always an interpretive act, and mapping Indigenous land, Ancestors, and cultural relationships carries particular ethical weight. The decisions made here — what to show, what to name, how to draw connections — reflect a set of commitments to transparency, care, and Indigenous-centered framing.
Connections shown between institutions and Tribal Nations do not imply ownership or resolved repatriation. They document relationships established through archaeological, historical, and Tribal evidence as recorded — evidence produced within a legal system that itself has a complicated relationship with Indigenous sovereignty.
Transparency
All data sources are cited. All citations are disclosed in the Sources page.
Tribal Sovereignty
Tribal Nations are named and treated as sovereign political entities, not ethnic categories or archaeological groupings.
Avoiding Harm
This project does not display sensitive information about individual human remains, sacred objects, or burial sites.
Ongoing Process
Repatriation is not presented as complete or resolved. The map reflects a snapshot of an ongoing, dynamic relationship.