What is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act?
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990 is a federal law passed in the United States that addresses the rights of indigenous tribes to certain artifacts, human remains, and other cultural items. The law was established to protect Native American tribes and the graves of their ancestors. NAGPRA was created to address the looting of Native American graves and provide tribes with a legal framework to reclaim their cultural heritage. This law requires federal agencies and museums to inventory their collections and return any items that have been identified as belonging to a specific tribe. NAGPRA provides for the repatriation of human remains, associated funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. Human remains refer to the physical remains of a deceased individual, including bones, hair, teeth, and other items. Funerary objects refer to items buried or placed in a grave with the deceased, such as jewelry or tools. Sacred objects are objects that are used in traditional ceremonies by certain tribes, and objects of cultural patrimony are objects that are important to a particular tribe. NAGPRA also provides for the repatriation of Native American items held in public and private collections, as well as artifacts taken illegally. This law allows tribes to reclaim their cultural heritage and encourages collaboration between tribes and museums to develop respectful partnerships. NAGPRA is an important law that provides Native American tribes with the right to protect and restore their cultural heritage.
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