What is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act?
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a federal law that was initiated in 1990 to help protect Native American cultural heritage and provide a way for Native Americans to reclaim the remains of their ancestors. The act requires that federally funded museums and universities return Native American human remains, sacred objects, and funerary objects to the tribes from which they originated, when requested. This act also requires that these institutions make an inventory of Native American cultural items and return them to their rightful tribes when requested. In Maryland, several tribes, such as the Piscataway-Conoy Tribe, the Nanticoke-Lenni Lenape, and the Powhatan Renape Nation have claimed ancestral remains from local museums. These tribes have also sought to reclaim or protect their sacred objects and other items of cultural importance, such as tribal artifacts or sites. The repatriation of these items provides the tribes with a sense of healing and renewal, as they are able to reconnect with their cultural heritage through reclaiming their ancestral remains and sacred objects. NAGPRA has been a major step in the protection of Native American cultural heritage, and it has helped to preserve the spiritual and cultural continuity of Native American tribes. It has also provided a way for these tribes to reclaim and honor the burial sites, funerary objects, and sacred objects of their ancestors.
Related FAQs
What are the requirements for tribal membership?Do Native American laws override state laws?
What is the Indian Child Welfare Act?
What treaties have Native Americans signed with the United States?
How are tribal lands regulated?
What is the American Indian Religious Freedom Act?
What is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act?
What is the Indian Education Assistance Act?
How does Native American law affect taxation?
What is the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act?
Related Blog Posts
How Native American Law Impacts Tribal Sovereignty - July 31, 2023Understanding the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act - August 7, 2023
5 Benefits of Tribal Participation in Federal Indian Law - August 14, 2023
What to Consider When Entering Into an Indian Country Jurisdiction - August 21, 2023
How To Draft an Enforceable Tribal Law - August 28, 2023