BY STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service Director recently announced the awarding of more than $1.6 million in grants to assist museums, Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages with implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which assists in the return of human remains and cultural objects to Native people.  

Of this amount, more than $1.5 million has been awarded to 21 recipients for projects to support the efforts of museums, Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in the documentation of NAGPRA-related objects, while the remaining $103,494 has been awarded to 10 recipients for costs associated with the return of the remains and objects.

“The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act is one of the most important tools we have to address violations of human rights against Native nations, individuals and their ancestors,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “I am proud that the National Park Service plays a key role in the implementing this policy of protection for American Indian and Native Hawaiian peoples and culture.”

The Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma received an $89,554 consultation grant while the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Tribes in Oklahoma received a $15,000 repatriation grant. 

Enacted in 1990, NAGPRA requires museums and federal agencies to inventory and identify Native American human remains and cultural items in their collections and to consult with culturally affiliated Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding the return of these objects to descendants or culturally affiliated tribes and other organizations. The act also authorizes the secretary of the Interior to award grants to assist in implement provisions of the act.

Projects funded by the grant program includes consultations to identify and affiliate individuals and cultural items, training for both museum and tribal staff on NAGPRA, digitizing collection records for consultation, consultations regarding culturally significant unaffiliated individuals, as well as the preparation and transport of items back to their Native people.