News Release

National Park Service Providing Grants for Repatriation of Native American Remains and Sacred Objects

As well as administering the National NAGPRA program, the National Park Service is committed to consulting Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding NAGPRA-related issues within its parks.

NPS Photo / Natchez Trace Parkway

News Release Date: September 29, 2016

Contact: Jeremy Barnum, 202-208-6843

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service announced today over $285,000 in grants to Indian tribes and museums to assist in the repatriation of ancestors and cultural items back to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.

"For over 25 years since the enactment of NAGPRA, we have made great strides working with our partners to return sacred objects and ancestral remains to native peoples," said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. "These grants will continue to support the work of dedicated individuals, Indian tribes, and institutions."

In July, the National Park Service announced a similar round of grants for the program, bringing the total grant funding awarded this fiscal year to over $1.9 million.

The grants awarded today will assist an Indian tribe and three museums with projects related to repatriation, including consultation and documentation of Native American collections. For example, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma will create a database to facilitate ongoing consultation and repatriation efforts. The University of Arkansas will consult with various tribes on at least 345 identified sets of human remains, conduct osteological analysis, identify and document associated funerary objects, and re-house NAGPRA items in culturally appropriate storage.

Enacted in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) requires museums and federal agencies to inventory and identify Native American human remains and cultural items in their collections, and to consult with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations regarding repatriation. Section 10 of the Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to assist in implementing provisions of the Act. The National NAGPRA Program is administered by the National Park Service.

For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/nagpra/.

FY 2016 Additional NAGPRA Grant Recipients

Ark.	University of Arkansas System	$58,632.00
Calif.	State Center Community College District (Fresno City College)	$83,814.00
Mich.	St. Ignace City Municipality	$55,339.00
Okla.	Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma	$90,000.00
	Total	$287,785.00

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