Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a Federal law passed in 1990. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items -- human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony - to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
The Section 106 process, as implemented by 36 CFR Part 800, requires that federal agencies consult with any Native American tribe that attaches religious and/or cultural significance to historic properties that may be affected by federal undertakings (36 CFR 800.2 (c)(3)). The Agency Official must provide the Native American tribe a reasonable opportunity to identify and evaluate its concerns about historic properties, articulate its views on the potential effects to such properties by the undertaking, and participate in the resolution of any adverse effects (36 CFR 800.2 (c)(3)(I)).