View of Local Museum Directors

Each group should get an equally fair chance to do what they want with the bones.First the scientists should get the bones, second the museum directors, and last theUmatilla or the Asatru.

The scientists get the bones first, so that they could study them. They would determine to whom the bones belong to, lifestyle, habits, etc. A study will be conductedand the information will be released to the public. After the scientists are done with them,

then the Museum Directors get the bones so that they could display them and use the information that the scientists gathered for educational purposes. If the bones are determined to be of the Umatilla origin, than the bones will be turned over to them and

they will bury the those bones. Although if the bones are of the Asatru origin than that is who the bones will be turned over to.

The government should not keep the bones. Their facilities are not well secured and as we can see from the original inventory, some parts of the skeleton are missing while being kept at a government facility. Several bone fragments from both femur, or upper leg bones, are missing. (Dutch Meier, ://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/).

They allowed for the Umatilla to perform religious ceremonies on the bones before the

court decided to whom the bones belong to. It is a belief that they stole parts of the

skeleton. They were the only ones that had access to the bones.

The Museum Directors respect the Umatilla, but the scientists must be allowed to study the bones because there is so much that we can learn from them and there are so many unanswered questions. "Because of public and scientific interest in the ancient remains, more complete characterization of site geology is warranted so that the site can be understood and discussed in a regional holistic setting." (Lillian D. Wakeley,

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/)

Chatters examination determined that the skull demonstrated numerous features common to a Caucasoid. A long narrow brain case, a narrow face, and a slightly projected jaw, were displayed by the skull. These features are not those common to the American Indian. The features would normally indicate that the skull might very well be that of a murder victim or missing person. Additional characteristics found on the skull indicated that it was probably not that of a recent victim. The crowns of the teeth were well worn, a trait common to prehistoric Indian skulls . The color of the skull indicated great age (James Chatters, http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/) .

Therefore raising many questions and beginning a debate of who should get the bones.

Scientists use Radiocarbon Dating or a more modern method of carbon 14 dating. By taking fragments from the bones, they could damage them, but in the opinion of the Museum Directors such risk is necessary to unlock all the secrets that the Kennewick Man holds with in. In order to satisfy the Umatilla the scientists would have to date the carbon without taking any of it out. If they could prove that the bones do not belong to the ancestors of the Umatilla, then further study will be allowed to take place. The scientists should get the bones for a period not less than five years, because in the

future there might be discovered a new way to study/date bones.

In conclusion it is in the best interest of the Museum Directors that each group gets the bones. As long as these groups agree with our proposal.

Proposal:

(1) The scientists get the bones for 5 years research

(2) We get them for 5 years to display the bones for educational purposes

(3) Then after 10 years if the bones are proven to be Umatilla s or the Asatru s Either

one keeps the bones here after.