Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a U.S. law enacted in 1990 to protect Native American burial sites and cultural heritage. It requires federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return human remains, funerary objects, and sacred items to their respective Native American tribes. This process promotes respect for Indigenous cultures and acknowledges past injustices related to the treatment of Native American remains and artifacts. NAGPRA aims to foster reconciliation and ensure that Native communities have a voice in the care and management of their ancestral heritage.