Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a Federal law that was passed on November 16, 1990, to resolve the disposition of Native American cultural items and human remains under the control of Federal agencies and institutions that receive Federal funding (“museums”), as well as the ownership or control of cultural items and human remains discovered on Federal or tribal lands after November 16, 1990. The statute and regulations outline the rights and responsibilities of lineal descendants, Indian tribes (to include Alaska Native villages), Native Hawaiian organizations, Federal agencies, and museums under the Act, and provide procedures for complying with NAGPRA. Depending on the category of cultural item in question and its cultural affiliation, NAGPRA provides lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs) a process for transfer to them of cultural items. Further, the California equivalent to NAGPRA, the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (CalNAGPRA), provides further rights to both federally recognized and non-federally recognized California Indian Tribes.
Why Does it Matter at UCI?
The University of California is committed to the repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items in accordance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), its accompanying regulations, and CalNAGPRA. The fundamental importance of facilitating the repatriation of Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items undergirds the Policy. As a Federal and land grant institution, UCI adheres to this policy.
The Office of Inclusive Excellence will serve as the campus resource for information about NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.
Contact
UCI’s Chancellor’s Designee
Dyonne Bergeron, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
inclusion@uci.edu
Point of Contact
Sharon Block, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
sblock@uci.edu
Updates
Office of Administrative Policies and Procedures, Follow up to Provost Stern's March 31 Message
April 7, 2021
Office of Administrative Policies and Procedures
Presidential Policy on Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation - Systemwide Review
May 27, 2022
Douglas M. Haynes, Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity Inclusion
A Message from Hal Stern, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
March 31, 2021
Hal Stern, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
March 2021 Proposed Revisions to UC Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Policy
March 2021
UCOP
Current UC Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Interim Policy
January 1, 2021
UCOP
Resources
Policy Resources
- National NAGPRA Program
- CalNAGPRA
- UCOP NAGPRA Policy
- Proposed Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Policy_Clean version
Educational Resources
- Office of Inclusive Excellence Land Acknowledgement
- National Preservation Institute NAGPRA Trainings
- Finding Our Way Home: A Handbook for Tribes, Universities, Museums, and individuals working toward repatriation under NAGPRA by Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
UCI Native American Resources
- Native American Faculty and Staff Association
- Native American Resource Guide
- Native American Studies