Repatriation

Repatriation is the return of Indigenous Ancestral remains, their burial belongings, and sacred and cultural objects back to their original Nations and lineal descendants. All of these types of tangible cultural heritage belong to Native Nations and are the national patrimony of those Nations. There is no individual or entity that has the authority to remove these items from the Nation. Only the free, prior and informed consent from the Native Nation can transfer ownership of these sensitive items to someone else.

Native Nations have never given up their inherent sovereignty
over their cultural heritage.

Current Work

We have built a national and international effort assisting Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples in the United States with domestic and international repatriation. We have been a national leader advocating for the repatriation of Native cultural heritage since our founding.

Policy Development
We contribute to the development of legislation and progressive policy and has provided advocacy for the creation and passage of the National Museum of the American Indian Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, PROTECT Patrimony Resolution, and the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act.

Technical Assistance
We develop training and technical assistance for Native Nations, museums and practitioners, including our Annual Repatriation Conference and webinars on topics including domestic and international repatriation, developing Native Nation laws and implementing a repatriation program, and creating strategies to obtain repatriation from private collectors domestically and internationally.