NAGPRA and the Repatriation of Artifacts
For Native American Heritage Month, we have an interesting history lesson from Ms. Yarborough:
“This November will mark the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The passing of this law was the result of years of struggle on the part of Native American activists. They fought to protect their ancestors’ graves from archaeologists and looters, repatriate the remains of their dead, and reclaim misappropriated and stolen art and artifacts.
According to the National Park Service, this human rights legislation “provided for the protection and return of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony” and “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.” While this statement uses the past tense, the submission of repatriation requests by Native American peoples is still ongoing and the processing of these claims may take years due to a number of variables. On Dec. 6, 2023, the Department of the Interior tried to address some of these issues with a final rule for the implementation of NAGPRA, clarifying the repatriation process and instituting timelines for different steps to expedite the return of artifacts and remains.
To learn more about NAGPRA, its implementation, and Native American history check out one of the books from the list below or click on the links to related podcasts and videos.”
Podcasts
- Ep. 4, Season 2: “You Have Disturbed Our Ancestors” (NAGPRA p.I)
- Ep. 2, Season 4: The Word For Man Is Ishi
- Ep. 92: “The 2024 Updated NAGPRA Regulations”
Videos
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