The National Park Service (NPS) recently revealed $2.1 million in grants to assist with repatriation of ancestral remains and sacred objects.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was enacted in 1990, according to the NPS website. Since then, over $56 million has been awarded, including 276 grants for repatriation of ancestral remains and cultural items and 816 grants for consultation and documentation of Native American collections.
"Repatriation of human remains and sacred cultural objects to Native American tribes, Alaska natives, and the native Hawaiian community is fundamental to ensuring the preservation of Indigenous culture," NPS Director Chuck Sams said in an NPS news release. "These grants are just one way National Park Service is advancing a whole-of-government effort to strengthen tribal sovereignty and repair our nation-to-nation relationships."
Fiscal Year 2022 NAGPRA Repatriation Grant recipients include the Arizona Board of Regents at University of Arizona for $15,000, the Field Museum of Natural History for $14,988, the Worcester Natural History Society for $4,311, the Chickasaw Nation for $15,000, the Burke Museum Association for $10,964, and Beloit College for $12,242, the news release noted.
Fiscal Year 2022 NAGPRA Consultation/Documentation Grant recipients include the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes for $95,905, the Alabama Department Of Archives and History for $43,225, the University Of Arkansas system for $55,384.00, the Federated Indians Of Graton Rancheria for $91,828, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians for $100,000, the San Diego Museum of Man for $47,639, the Shingle Springs Rancheria for $100,000, Florida State University for $99,489, Missouri State University for $68,793, the University Of Missouri system for $100,000, the University Of Montana for $99,314, the Board of Regents of the University Of Nebraska for $83,553, the Joslyn Art Museum for $92,875, the University Of New Mexico for $99,346, the Ohio Historical Society for $100,000.00, the University Of Cincinnati for $100,000, the Caddo tribe Of Oklahoma for $100,000, the Gilcrease Museum Management Trust for $85,364, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for $97,424, the University Of Texas at San Antonio for $35,253, the Forest County Potawatomi community for $100,000, the Stockbridge-Munsee community for $90,233, and the University Of Wisconsin system for $98,870. The total sum of these grants is $2,084,495.
