The wishes and perspectives of the diverse Apache communities connected to this history must be part of any genuine consultation process.

Different descendants and community members have expressed different views.

Some have actively called for DNA testing and repatriation.

Others have expressed the view that the dead should be left in peace.

Both perspectives reflect genuine Apache traditions and genuine concerns for the dignity of the deceased.

The Broader Context: Native American Remains In Collections

The Geronimo skull mystery is extraordinary in its specifics — the famous name, the elite secret society, the presidential family connection, the federal lawsuit — but it reflects a broader situation that is not extraordinary at all.

Thousands of Native American individuals’ remains are held in museum collections, university collections, and private collections across the United States.