- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The National Park Service (NPS) has allocated $3 million in grants to support the consultation, documentation, and repatriation of Native American ancestral remains and cultural items. These grants, awarded to 13 Tribes and 21 museums, are part of the ongoing efforts under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Enacted in 1990, NAGPRA mandates that museums and federal agencies inventory and identify Native American human remains and cultural objects in their collections. The law also requires consultation with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations to ensure the respectful return of these items. The NPS, which is responsible for administering NAGPRA, facilitates the awarding of these grants.
Chuck Sams, Director of the NPS, emphasized the significance of these efforts: “The National Park Service is committed to supporting these important efforts to reconnect and return the remains of Tribal ancestors and other cultural resources to the communities they belong to. These grants help ensure Native American cultural heritage isn’t kept in storage, cast aside, or forgotten.”
The NPS awarded five Repatriation Grants to two Tribes and three museums to fund the return of human remains and cultural items. These grants will facilitate the transportation and reburial of 137 ancestors, 12 funerary objects, and 54 cultural items. The Chickasaw Nation is one of the grant recipients and will use the funds to support 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, with additional repatriations planned if feasible.
The recipients of the FY 2024 NAGPRA Repatriation Grants 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, the NPS awarded 34 grants to 11 Tribes and 19 museums for consultation and documentation projects. These grants will fund staff travel, consultation meetings, and research, all of which are critical to the repatriation process.
One notable grant recipient is the Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC) of Wisconsin. The FCPC will use the funding to seek the return of ancestral remains, funerary objects, and culturally significant items. The Tribe will collaborate with several museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Wisconsin Historical Society, to begin cataloging these items for potential repatriation.
The FY 2024 NAGPRA Consultation/Documentation Grant recipients include:
- Central Council 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 (CA): $87,867
- University of Wisconsin System (WI): $196,774 (two grants)
The total funding for consultation and documentation projects is $2,969,249.
More Stories Like This
'This is all we have.' | Tribal Citizens Continue Protest of Wind River Land GrabOsage Minerals Council Secures Landmark Legal Victory Over Enel for Trespass in Osage Mineral Estate
David Sickey Writes About the Historic Opportunity for Tribes to Secure Their Water Rights
Keepers of the Flame Storytellers Charged with Sustaining Chickasaw Essence
Land Back: United Houma Nation Received Sacred Indian Mounds Back
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.
No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.
