What is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act?

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a United States federal law passed in 1990 that addresses the rights of Native Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native people in relation to the protection and repatriation of their buried and unburied ancestors’ remains, sacred and cultural items, and funerary objects. This Act is especially important for Native Americans, as it seeks to restore the connection between these groups and their ancestors by allowing for the right of Native Americans to claim, own, and control their ancestors’ remains and sacred items. This act applies to all Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native people throughout South Carolina, and it allows these groups to work with U.S. government agencies and museums in order to locate, identify, and repatriate their ancestors’ remains as well as sacred and funerary objects. The NAGPRA has helped Native Americans in South Carolina to reclaim rights to their ancestors’ remains and culture, and it is seen as a major step forward for Native American rights. Additionally, this Act has been influential in raising awareness about the importance of repatriation of Native American remains and sacred and cultural items.

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