The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

The repatriation-act">Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), enacted in 1990, is a U.S. law designed to protect the rights of Native American tribes regarding their ancestors' remains and cultural items. It requires federal agencies and institutions receiving federal funds to return human remains and cultural artifacts to the respective tribes when requested. The law aims to address past injustices by recognizing the cultural significance of these items to Native American communities and supporting their sovereignty and heritage. NAGPRA facilitates respectful relationships between Native tribes and museums or universities holding their ancestral materials.