What does the law NAGPRA stand for?

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Pub. L. 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., 104 Stat….Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Enacted by the 101st United States Congress
Effective November 16, 1990
Citations
Public law 101-601
Statutes at Large 104 Stat. 3048

What is NAGPRA and why is it important?

What is NAGPRA and why is it important? NAGPRA stands for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which was established in 1990. It is fundamentally human rights legislation, and is in place to protect the cultural and biological remains of Native Americans and their ancestors.

What does the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation legislation do?

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act – Provides for the ownership or control of Native American cultural items (human remains and objects) excavated or discovered on Federal or tribal lands.

Does NAGPRA apply to private property?

On private or state land, excavations or discoveries are governed first by local or state laws, but human remains or cultural items removed from private or state land may be subject to NAGPRA as a holding or collection, depending on who has control of them.

Who has to follow NAGPRA?

NAGPRA requires that Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations be consulted whenever archeological investigations encounter, or are expected to encounter, Native American cultural items or when such items are unexpectedly discovered on Federal or tribal lands (Section 3).

How does NAGPRA affect Archaeology today?

NAGPRA has had a dramatic effect on the day-to-day practice of archaeology and physical anthropology in the United States. In many cases, NAGPRA helped stimulate interactions of archaeologists and museum professionals with Native Americans that were felt to be constructive by all parties.

How NAGPRA affects museums today?

NAGPRA limits the ability of museums to exercise power over the material culture of Native peoples and facilitates the inclusion of Native perspectives and agendas into exhibits about Native American groups.

What was the purpose of the National NAGPRA Act?

By enacting NAGPRA, Congress recognized that human remains of any ancestry “must at all times be treated with dignity and respect.” Congress also acknowledged that human remains and other cultural items removed from Federal or tribal lands belong, in the first instance, to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

Where can I find a glossary for NAGPRA?

Read NAGPRA, its legislative history, and regulations. Find a glossary, training videos, and more. Responsible for administering the Act on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. By the National NAGPRA Program and its partners.

What does NAGPRA do for Native American graves?

Almost all of these collections are housed in non-federal repositories. NAGPRA also provides a process for Federal agencies to address new discoveries of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural property intentionally excavated or inadvertently discovered on Federal or Tribal lands.

What do you need to know about NAGPRA compliance?

The person who has discovered the items must stop the activity and notify the responsible Federal agency (in the case of federal land) or the appropriate tribe or Native Hawaiian organization (in the case of tribal land).