What is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act?
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, is a federal law enacted in 1990 to protect Native American cultural and ancestral rights. The law requires that Native American human remains and cultural items, such as funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, that are held in universities and museums be returned to their respective tribes or lineal descendants. NAGPRA also mandates that tribes and federal agencies consult with each other on repatriation. This ensures that the tribes have a say in how the remains and artifacts are handled, as well as in determining the rightful beneficiaries who should receive them. In addition, NAGPRA also calls for the protection of Native American burial sites and Cultural Resources by requiring that permits are obtained prior to excavating them. In Washington, NAGPRA has been implemented by the Makah Tribe of the Olympic Peninsula and the Squaxin Island Tribe of South Puget Sound, who have both worked diligently to repatriate their ancestral remains and cultural items. In 2009, the Makah Tribe successfully repatriated and reburied ancestral remains that were excavated in the late 19th century. In addition, the Squaxin Island Tribe, alongside the University of Washington, worked together to repatriate and rebury remains of their ancestors that were held in the Burke Museum. NAGPRA is an important law that protects Native American cultural and ancestral rights. It ensures that the tribes are consulted and given the opportunity to repatriate and rebury the remains and artifacts of their ancestors. The law is a landmark achievement for Native Americans in Washington and throughout the United States.
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