Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

In the late 1980s through 1990, the Association played a key role in obtaining the enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a federal law that provides graves protection for federal and Tribal lands, mandates repatriation of Ancestors, their burial belongings and sacred objection and cultural patrimony from federal agencies and any institution that has been in receipt of federal funds. 

​The Association has been very involved in the implementation of NAGPRA, having facilitated repatriation of almost 2,000 human remains to Dakota Nations, as well as filing amicus briefs in NAGPRA cases, writing legal analyses of NAGPRA for Tribal and public use, providing NAGPRA training, and filing comments on proposed regulations.

We also provide NAGPRA specific training as part of our Annual Repatriation Conference, and can customize training and technical assistance for Native Nations and institutions. 

Video Narrated by former Association Executive Director Jack Trope

NAGPRA Regulations 

NAGPRA - The Legislation

On July 8, 2021, the Department of the Interior invited Tribal leaders and Native Hawaiian Community leaders to consult on a draft proposal of a comprehensive revision of the NAGPRA regulations. The Association on American Indian Affairs submitted comprehensive comments to the Department of Interior regarding the draft regulations. These comments were developed with Tribal representatives. You can download them here or read them below.

On February 16, 2022, the Association submitted comments to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on needed revisions to the NAGPRA legislation in response to their oversight hearing on “The Long Journey Home: Advancing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act’s Promise After 30 Years of Practice.” You can download those comments here or read them below. These comments were developed with our Repatriation Working Group and Tribal representatives.