Deciding the legal question does not necessarily decide the moral issue. Establishing a legally legitimate claim to something does not settle the issue of the moral legitimacy of that claim.
Some laws are unwise, and others are unjust.
I will confine my remarks to an assessment of one moral argument regarding the disposition of the remains in this case. However, the remains in this case are not closely related to any living group. The rhetorical question is inappropriate here. 4 One moral argument supporting the concern for cultural affiliation is that disposition of the remains by someone other than the culturally affiliated may violate the religious beliefs of the culturally affiliated people. Thus it is inappropriate for anyone, Indian or otherwise to possess such remains for whatever purpose. . . .