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What's New?

NAGPRA EVENTS CALENDAR 2009-2010

Review Committee Meeting -
May 23-24, 2009, Seattle, WA
-Minutes
-Transcripts Vol 1 and Vol 2

June 8 Meeting minutes

What's New In Training...

November 2009: New Webinar! Starting a Repatriation Program: What Every Tribe Should Know
postponed; TBD

Other News...

FY2009 Consultation/Documentation Grants

Federal Recognition of the Wilton Miwok Rancheria

FY09 Mid Year Report (May 2009)

The online Culturally Unidentifiable Native American Inventories Database was updated Sep 2009.

Culturally Affiliated Native American Human Remains Not Published In Notices Report

FY2008 National NAGPRA Final Year Report

Guidance on alleging that a museum has failed to comply with NAGPRA

Letter to Potentially Aggrieved Parties Alleging a Museum has failed to comply with the requirements of NAGPRA

Request for CUI Disposition form

For matters related to the Native Hawaiian community, visit The Office of Hawaiian Relations

The National NAGPRA Program is pleased to announce its newest publication Journeys to Repatriation: 15 Years of NAGPRA Grants (1994-2008). With rich data and powerful stories, Journeys to Repatriation serves as both an inspirational resource and educational tool for those working with and interested in NAGPRA. The National NAGPRA Program has a limited number of hard copies available. If you are interested in receiving a copy or would like more information please contact Sangita Chari, Grants and Outreach Coordinator, at 202-354-2208 or nagpra_info@nps.gov.

House Committee on Natural Resources, Oversight Hearing on NAGPRA

On October 7, 2009, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on the implementation of NAGPRA and the administration of the National NAGPRA Program. The meeting was well attended by Committee members.  Their interest in NAGPRA, and the full implementation of the Act, is much appreciated. Click here to access comments of Chairman Rahall and the witnesses. A thank you is also due to those who appeared at the hearing as witnesses and attendees in the packed room.

Secretary Salazar Appoints Dr. Rosita Worl to the NAGPRA Review Committee

On September 4, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appointed Rosita Worl, Ph.D. (Tlingit, Alaska) to a four-year term on the NAGPRA Review Committee as the at-large member. She was one of three candidates on the list of persons developed and consented to by all of the members on the Review Committee. Dr. Worl is President of the Sealaska Heritage Institute, Vice Chair of the Board of Sealaska Corporation, and a board member of the Alaska Federation of Natives. She also teaches at the University of Alaska - Southeast. She served on the Review Committee from November 2000, until March 2009, and has chaired the Committee. The previous at-large member of the Review Committee was Colin Kippen (Hawaii).

Secretary Salazar appoints Chairman Mervin Wright, Jr. to the NAGPRA Review Committee

On July 23, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appointed Mervin Wright, Jr., Chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (Nevada), to serve on the NAGPRA Review Committee. He was nominated by the Comanche Nation (Oklahoma),  the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and the  Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Chairman Wright is on the tribal repatriation committee.  He will be attending his first meeting in Sarasota, Florida on October 30-31, 2009.

Native American Consultation Database (NACD) The NACD is undergoing maintenance to improve the quality for the end user. The expected timeframe for updates should occur by October. For inquiries or questions, please send your request to the NACD Administrator at NAGPRA_info@nps.gov.


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The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a Federal law passed in 1990. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items -- human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony - to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The National NAGPRA program assists the Secretary of the Interior with some of the Secretary's responsibilities under NAGPRA. Among its chief activities, National NAGPRA develops regulations and guidance for implementing NAGPRA; provides administrative and staff support for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Commitee; assists Indian tribes, Native Alaskan villages and corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, and Federal agencies with the NAGPRA process; maintains the Native American Consultation Database (NACD) and other online databases; provides training; manages a grants program; investigates allegations of failure to comply; and makes program documents and publications available on the Web.