Maria Darlene Pearson or Hai-Mecha Eunka (lit. "Running Moccasins") (July 12, 1932 – May 23, 2003) was an activist who has successfully challenged the legal treatment of Native American remains. A member of the Turtle Clan of the
Yankton Sioux
The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into ...
(which is a federally recognized tribe of
Yankton Dakota
The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided in ...
), she was one of the primary catalysts for the creation of the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Pub. L. 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., 104 Stat. 3048, is a United States federal law enacted on November 16, 1990.
The Act requires federal agencies and institutions tha ...
(NAGPRA). Her actions led to her being called "the Founding Mother of the modern Indian repatriation movement" and "the
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "the ...
of NAGPRA".
Activism
Maria first became an active advocate for the repatriation of
Native American human remains in 1971.
At this time, the
Iowa Highway Commission uncovered the skeletal remains of 26 European-American pioneers as well as the remains of a Native American woman and her infant child during road construction in
Glenwood, Iowa
Glenwood is a city in, and the county seat of, Mills County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,073 in the 2020 census, a decline from 5,358 in 2000.
History
Located in a hollow of the Loess Hills on the east side of the Missouri River, G ...
. She learned of this from her husband, John Pearson, who was an engineer for the Iowa State Highway Commission.
While the remains of the 26 white settlers were quickly reburied, the remains of a Native American mother and child were sent to the Office of the State Archaeologist in Iowa City for study. Learning of this incident, Maria was appalled that the skeletal remains of Native Americans were treated differently from white remains. Pearson staged a protest in the State Capitol and finally gained an audience with Gov.
Robert D. Ray
Robert Dolph Ray (September 26, 1928 – July 8, 2018) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served as the 38th governor of Iowa from January 16, 1969 to January 14, 1983.
During his tenure as governor, Ray served as chair of t ...
after sitting outside his office in traditional attire. "You can give me back my people's bones and you can quit digging them up" she responded when the governor asked what he could do for her. Maria continued to meet with legislators, archaeologists, anthropologists, physical anthropologists, and other tribal members, which led to the passage of the Iowa Burials Protection Act of 1976, the first legislative act in the U.S. that specifically protected Native American remains. Emboldened by her success, Pearson went on to lobby national leaders, and was one of the catalysts for the creation of
NAGPRA. Pearson was featured in the 1995
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
documentary ''Bones of Contention''. Maria was also nominated twice for a
for her substantial contributions toward the protection and repatriation of Native American remains.
on July 12, 1932 where her mother gave her the Yankton name ''Hai-Mecha Eunka'' (translated as "Running Moccasins").
. Pearson had six children: Robert, Michael, Eldon, Ronald, Richard, and Darlene and 21 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Pearson died in
May 23, 2003 at the age of 70.