Βι¶ΉΣ³»­

Background

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3001-3013, 43 CFR Part 10 was passed on November 16, 1990, to resolve the disposition of Native American cultural items and human remains under the control of Federal agencies and institutions that receive Federal funding ("museums"), as well as the ownership or control of cultural items and human remains discovered on Federal or tribal lands after November 16, 1990.

The statute and regulations outline the rights and responsibilities of lineal descendants, Indian tribes (to include Alaska Native villages), Native Hawaiian organizations, Federal agencies, and museums under the Act, and provide procedures for complying with NAGPRA. Depending on the category of cultural item in question and its cultural affiliation, NAGPRA provides lineal descendants (regardless of whether or not they are Native American), Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs) a process for transfer to them of cultural items.

—U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, American Indian Liaison Office

Prior to NAGPRA implementation, the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ held Native American human remains and cultural items that were primarily obtained between 1967 and 1980 as the result of University archaeological excavations, cultural resource management projects or inadvertent discoveries by the public.

NAGPRA Summaries and Inventories were first created in consultation with potentially affiliated tribes in 1995. These preliminary efforts resulted in several repatriations and consultations with tribal nations. In 2018 a new effort to inventory and identify additional burial and ceremonial cultural items began and we are renewing efforts to consult with tribal nations to ensure that all human remains under Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ control are repatriated as soon as possible. The University is continuing to consult and report any newly discovered human remains and cultural items as they are identified.

 

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