Repatriation of Items Through NAGPRA

Repatriation of Items Through The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

We Celebrate Items Being Welcomed Home! 

Museums in the United States have a long history of collecting and displaying Native American cultural items and ancestors (human remains). The State Indian Museum’s collection includes many items from hobbyists and collectors who looted Native land. For decades, it was very difficult for Indigenous communities to reclaim their cultural items and ancestors from museums.  

Unwavering Native American activism was key to changing museum practices. Groups like American Indians Against Desecration worked throughout the 1980s and 1990s to bring attention to the issue of ancestors in museum collections. Thanks to the many Native groups and individuals who raised their voices, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was signed into law on November 16, 1990. NAGPRA requires museums that receive federal funding to establish a legal process for returning sacred objects and important cultural items back to their related tribe or family member.  

 

Follow the Journey Towards Healing 

The State Indian Museum still contains many cultural items that are precious to Native American communities. We are honored to be part of ongoing consultations with Tribal representatives and community members to return these items to their rightful owners.  

 

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation in California State Parks