Native American exhibits at the Chicago museum are covered up as new regulations take effect

As new federal laws take effect, the Field Museum in Chicago had wrapped up numerous displays that featured artifacts related to Native American culture.

In order to make it easier to preserve and remove Native American corpses and cultural artifacts, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act was created in 1990. On Friday, new regulations went into effect that mandate museums get tribe approval before displaying these artifacts.

“In the process consultation with the affected organizations, we have included every situation that we consider contain cultural items that might be liable to these regulations,” the Field Museum noted in a statement declaring its decision.