The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act and California state legislation The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act
The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed by the United States Congress in 1990 Under the law, institutions supported by federal funding were required to inventory any collections that might include “human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony” associated with Native Americans and Native Hawaiians, and take steps to repatriate these materials in consultation with the relevant communities.
Many of the goals of Federal NAGPRA were enhanced by California state legislation. The passage of A.B. 275 in 2020 (CalNAGPRA) provided for the state Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to oversee the inventory, consultation, and repatriation process, expanding “coverage” to include tribes that were recognized by the state but not necessarily by the Federal Government. NAHC staff establishes policy and protocol for the CalNAGPRA process.
The CSU Chancellor's Office provides systemwide oversight of campuses working towards repatriation outcomes. CSU NAGPRA/Repatriation Coordinators meet monthly to discuss compliance and best practices, which promotes consistent progress towards our collective goal of repatriation.
CSUN is ethically and legally committed to comply with Federal NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA. In February 2022 an earlier collections inventory was updated and submitted to the NAHC. Relevant collections, housed in the Archaeological Repository maintained by the CSUN Department of Anthropology, continue to be assessed. Consultation with tribal communities is the top priority, and takes place on a regular basis. Communication with other stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, is also continuous.
It is important to acknowledge that NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA compliance is an open-ended process. It must be based on communication, good faith, and the building of relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. The complex framework established by the legislation might seem to make the process frustratingly slow, but we are committed to ethical stewardship and repatriation over the long term.
Queries regarding CSUN NAGPRA compliance can be addressed to
Dayle Bingham
CalNAGPRA/NAGPRA Repatriation Program Coordinator
Office of the President
dayle.bingham@csun.edu