The 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 that aims to return Native American cultural items, including human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and items of cultural patrimony, to their rightful tribes and descendants. It requires museums and federal agencies to document and identify such items in their collections and establish consultation processes with tribes to facilitate repatriation. NAGPRA promotes respect for Native American cultural heritage and seeks to rectify historical injustices related to the removal and display of Indigenous remains and artifacts.