Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002

NW tribes appealing Kennewick Man ruling

By the Herald staff

Four Northwest tribes have appealed a federal District Court ruling in the Kennewick Man case, making good on promises to challenge an opinion that allows continued study of the 9,000-year-old remains.

The appeal was filed late last week by Nez Perce, Umatilla, Yakama and Colville lawyers and made public Monday.

The 9th Circuit Court is eventually expected to hear arguments about the legal definition of "Native American" in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Tribes also expect to challenge the judge's application of several legal standards and procedures in the case, which started shortly after the bones were discovered in 1996.