CNMI vows to rebury ancestral remains this year

11:11 am on 26 February 2020

The Northern Marianas Historic Preservation Office (HPO) will finally rebury more than 700 ancestral remains under its care this year.

The 200 room hotel and casino Imperial Pacific Resort under construction in Saipan, CNMI

The latest ancestral remains were found during construction of the Imperial Pacific Casino and Resort on Saipan. Photo: RNZ/Mark Rabago

Most will be reburied at the sites where they were found, one of which is the area where the Imperial Pacific Saipan is now being built.

The HPO said it would conduct the reburial traditionally with the remains wrapped carefully and placed into a basket woven from banana leaves before being put into the ground.

The ancestral remains that have been exhumed are currently being kept in HPO's warehouse.