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Description of the Project

Project Title: Learning NAGPRA: Resources for Teaching and Training

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation

Home Institution: Indiana University (IU)

In 2014 and 2015, researchers from Indiana University received National Science Foundation funding (grants 1449465, 1540447) through their Cultivating Cultures of Ethical STEM initiative to study how repatriation is taught and learned, and to work toward interventions to improve the resources available. The “Learning NAGPRA” project prioritizes a more thorough understanding of the challenges and bottlenecks in preparing professionals for work related to NAGPRA and repatriation. It also seeks better ways to assist learners at different points throughout their education on issues relating to professional ethics, working with human subjects, building cultural competency and relationships with Native American communities, and NAGPRA consultation and compliance. The project hopes, in collaboration with tribal colleges and participants, to look beyond traditional Euroamerican pedagogy, to find methods that speak to both indigenous and non-indigenous students.

The first year focused on background research and project planning and aimed to understand the perspectives and priorities of students and educators in learning and teaching about ethics and more specifically NAGPRA in anthropology and museum studies-related programs. A core component of the grant through its first three years is the Learning NAGPRA Collegium, a workshop format that brings together graduate students, educators, museum professionals, tribal cultural specialists, and members of professional organizations to discuss and then construct educational methods and materials for particular audiences in different disciplines and at all stages of career. We envision the result to be a website to act as a dynamic “hub” where a site visitor can hear a talk, explore a case study, connect to other NAGPRA-related resources, consult the wisdom of NAGPRA experts both tribal and non-tribal, or find materials to add to course planning.

What is NAGPRA?

NAGPRA was passed in 1990 as federal legislation that requires institutions receiving federal funds to report Native American cultural items on a national registry. These cultural items include human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants and culturally affiliated tribal entities or organizations may then ask for the return of these items. Following NAGPRA, Indiana University is committed to ongoing efforts to return Native American remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony to lineal descendants and culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and to provide information about culturally unidentifiable Native American collections.

To learn more about NAGPRA, visit the National NAGPRA website

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