The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is changing how it looks after the thousands of human remains in its collection. The museum is working to increase transparency and accountability in how it handles these remains, following concerns from indigenous groups and others.

The museum has more than 1 million human remains in its collection, making it one of the largest in the world. These remains include skeletons, skulls, and other body parts from people of all races and ethnicities. Many of these remains were collected in the 19th and early 20th centuries and are considered culturally sensitive.

In recent years, the museum has been criticized for not doing enough to consult with indigenous groups and other stakeholders when it comes to the handling of these remains. In 2019, the museum was sued by a group of Native American tribes who argued that the museum's collection of human remains was disrespectful and unethical.

In response to these concerns, the museum has developed a new set of guidelines for handling human remains. These guidelines include:

* Creating a new ethics committee to oversee the handling of human remains.

* Consulting with indigenous groups and other stakeholders when it comes to the handling of these remains.

* Increasing transparency and accountability in how the museum handles human remains.

The museum is also working to repatriate human remains to their communities of origin. In 2020, the museum repatriated the remains of 11 individuals to the Tlingit and Haida tribes of Alaska.

The museum's new guidelines represent a significant shift in how it handles human remains. These changes are intended to increase respect for the dead and to protect the cultural heritage of indigenous groups.