-
Details
-
From Native News Online staff
-
The National Park Service (NPS) has provided $3 million in grants to support the study, documentation, and repatriation of Native American ancestral remains and cultural items. These grants, awarded to 13 tribes and 21 museums, are part of ongoing efforts under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Enacted in 1990, NAGPRA requires museums and federal agencies to inventory and identify human remains and Native American cultural objects in their collections. The law also requires consultations with Native Hawaiian tribes and organizations to ensure the respectful return of these objects. The NPS, the responsible for the administration of NAGPRA, supports The Award ceremony from these subsidies.
Never miss the most important stories and breaking news from Indian Country. Sign up to receive our reports delivered straight to your inbox every weekday morning.
Chuck Sams, director of the NPS, emphasized the importance of these efforts: “The National Park Service is committed to supporting these important efforts to return ancestral remains and other cultural resources to the communities to which they belong. These grants will help ensure that Native American cultural heritage is not stored, discarded, or forgotten.”
The NPS awarded five repatriation grants to two tribes and three museums to fund the return of human remains and cultural objects. These grants will allow for the transportation and reburial of 137 ancestors, 12 funerary objects, and 54 cultural objects. The Chickasaw Nation is one of the grant recipients and will use the funds to assist its reburial team in repatriating 130 ancestors from the Tennessee Valley Authority in Alabama. The team will travel from Ada, Oklahoma to Moundville, Alabama to complete this mission. Additional repatriations are planned as possible.
Recipients of NAGPRA repatriation grants for fiscal year 2024 include:
- Galena Village (AK): $24,387
- Colorado Seminary (CO): $6,509
- Vassar College (NY): $10,010
- Hartwick College (NY): $15,810
- Chickasaw Nation (OK): $15,155
In addition to repatriation, NPS awarded 34 grants to 11 tribes and 19 museums for outreach and documentation projects. These grants fund staff travel, outreach meetings, and research. of which crucial for the repatriation process.
A notable scholarship recipient is The Potawatomi Community of Forest County (FCPC) from Wisconsin. The FCPC will use the funds to seek the return of ancestral remains, funerary objects and culturally significant items. The tribe will partner with several museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Wisconsin Historical Society, to start cataloging these items for possible return.
Recipients of the NAGPRA Consulting/Documentation Grant for fiscal year 2024 include:
- Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (AK): $98,729
- Kenaitze Indian Tribe (AK): $99,619
- University of South Alabama (AL): $97,545
- Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Foundation (California): $87,867
- University of Wisconsin System (WI): $196,774 (two scholarships)
The total funding for consulting and documentation projects is US$2,969,249.
More stories like this
Administration for Native Americans awards over $7 million to preserve indigenous languages
Oversight hearing sheds light on universities’ compliance with Native American repatriation laws
Navajo leaders express their opposition to uranium mining
Preserving traditional land: Shinnecock Nation calls on Southampton to act
Following the release of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s final report, we at Native News Online took a moment to reflect on our three-year effort to bring the traumatic legacy of Native American boarding schools to the forefront. By covering all 12 Road to Healing events and publishing over 250 articles, we gave survivors a voice and illuminated the lasting impact on Indigenous communities. Our work continues. Please consider making a donation to support our ongoing coverage of Indian boarding schools.
About the author
Author: Native News Online staffE-mail: This email address is protected from spambots. JavaScript must be enabled to view it!
