The use of pesticides has been a common practice by museums to control insect infestations of ethnographic collections. In the United States, the advent of repatriation legislation mandating the re-introduction of certain culturally sensitive items to their Native American cultures of origin has created a volatile situation for both the tribal and museum communities. Ritual and ceremonial use of repatriated objects contaminated with pesticides may pose serious health hazards for the recipients of these items, presenting a legal and ethical dilemma for museums. This paper discusses the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian’s approach to recognizing and addressing the concerns of its Native American constituency, and understanding and resolving the issues related to contaminated cultural collections under its stewardship. -- SCMRE