NAGPRA for the Local Museum: An Introduc9on to the Na9ve American Grave Protec9on and Repatria9on Act

Chris9ne Thompson Archaeologist Applied Anthropology Laboratories Department of Anthropology Ball State University, Muncie IN Connec&ngtoCollec&onsCareWebinarNovember16,2017

Experience

• ArchaeologyandculturalresourceresearchinIndianaandOhio• NAGPRAConsulta&on&Documenta&ongrantsin2012,2013,and2015andRepatria&ongrantin2014withBallStateUniversity• Mul&pleNAGPRAconsulta&onswithAmericanIndiantribes• ResearchpartnershipswithAmericanIndiantribes• Workcloselywithothermuseumsandacademicins&tu&onsinOhioandIndiana• Volunteerandmemberofalocalhistoricalsociety

Topics Today

• WhatisNAGPRA?• WhyisNAGPRAimportant?• WhatistheNAGPRAprocess?•  SelectedNAGPRACaseStudies• HowcanyoulearnmoreaboutNAGPRA?• Wrapup• Ques&ons

What is NAGPRA?

The very basics of NAGPRA

• Na&veAmericanGraveProtec&onandRepatria&onAct•  Federallawpassedin1990• Providesaprocessforreturningcertainculturalitems,includinghumanremains,toNa&veAmericantribesandNa&veHawaiianOrganiza&ons(NHOs)•  Includesprovisionsforunclaimedandculturallyuniden&fiableitems• Penal&esfornoncomplianceandillegaltrafficking• AuthorizesFederalgrantstofacilitateNAGPRAcompliance

What does this really mean?

• Humanrightsandcivilrightslegisla&on• Recogni&onandsuppor&ngthatNa&veAmericanhumanremainsarepeople,notspecimens• Buildingrela&onshipswithNa&veAmericantribes• ReturningNa&veAmericanancestorstoaproperandrespec\ulburialplace,inconsulta&onwithtribes

Basic NAGPRA Terms •  CulturalItems-Humanremains,associatedandunassociatedfuneraryobjects,sacredobjects,andobjectsofculturalpatrimony•  AssociatedFuneraryObjects(AFO)–ObjectsreasonablybelievedtohavebeenplacedwiththedeceasedaspartofthedeathriteorceremonyofacultureANDthehumanremainstheyareassociatedwithareinthepossessionorcontrolofaMuseum•  UnassociatedFuneraryObjects(UFO)–FuneraryobjectsasdescribedaboveANDthehumanremainstheyareassociatedwithareNOTinthepossessionorcontrolofaMuseum•  SacredObjects–Specificceremonialobjectsneededfortheprac&ceoftradi&onalNa&veAmericanreligionstoday•  ObjectsofCulturalPatrimony-Anobjecthavingongoinghistorical,tradi&onal,orculturalimportancecentraltotheNa&veAmericangrouporcultureitself

Basic NAGPRA Terms, cont.

• Museum–Ins&tu&onorStateorlocalgovernmentthatreceivesFederalfundsandhaspossessionof,orcontrolover,Na&veAmericanculturalitems• Possession–(permanent)physicalcustodyofNa&veAmericanculturalitems• Control–legalinterestinNa&veAmericanculturalitems• RepatriaAon–ThetransferofphysicalcustodyandlegalinterestinNa&veAmericanculturalitemstolinealdescendants,culturallyaffiliatedIndiantribes,andNa&veHawaiianorganiza&ons

Why is NAGPRA Important?

Why was NAGPRA legisla9on necessary?

•  Newberry:“Americancollec&ngof[Na&veremainsand]objects,[scholars]argue,shouldbeunderstoodasaformof‘na&onbuilding,’inwhichAmericanscametoviewthedeadbodiesofIndiansastrophies.”

•  Europeancontact-Indiangravesandsacredobjectsregularlydesecrated•  1830s-Na&veAmericanleaderswereokendisinterredanddisplayed

•  1860s-U.S.SurgeonGeneralencouragedcollec&ngAmericanIndianhumanremainsforstudyattheArmyMedicalMuseum

•  Misguidedalempttostudyevolu&on;Smithsonian>18,000Indianremains

•  Late19thandearly20thcentury–treatmentofNa&veAmericans,livinganddead,as“exhibits”,“exo&cs”,and“partofthepast”.Masscollec&ngofculturalitemswhilesquelchingac&veculturalprac&ces.

How did NAGPRA come to be?

•  1970sNa&verightsmovement• MariaPearson(RunningMocassins,YanktonDakota)•  1987loo&ngofSlackFarm,Kentucky•  1990,over14,500Na&veAmericanhumanremainsatFederalagencies• Na&veAmericanconcerns-Lackofstatelawprotec&ngunmarkedgraves;equalprotec&on;commonlaw’slackofacknowledgementofNa&veAmericandeathandburialprac&ces,andreligiousbeliefs;etc.

Why NAGPRA con9nues to be important

•  Theremainsofatleast182,000Na&veAmericanindividualsarehousedatfederalins&tu&onsandmuseums,awai&ngrepatria&on• Objectsofculturalpatrimonyremainseparatedfromthetribeswhoseculturetheyrepresent•  FromanUniversityofMichiganrepatria&onwithNolawaseppiHuronBandofthePotawatomi(NHBP)in2014:

What is the NAGPRA process?

Summaries vs.

Inventories

1. Ins9tu9on or Federal agency consults with Indian tribes or NHOs to determine if human remains and associated funerary objects in its collec9ons are culturally affiliated or culturally uniden9fiable

More NAGPRA Terms

• ConsultaAon–ProcessundertakenwithAmericanIndiantribestodetermineculturalaffiliaAonanddisposi&onofhumanremainsandculturalitems• CulturallyUnidenAfiable(CUI)–HumanremainsandculturalitemsthatcannotbeculturallyaffiliatedtoanypresentdayIndiantribeorNHO• CulturalAffiliaAon(CA)–WhenthepreponderanceofevidenceassociateshumanremainsorculturalitemstoaspecificpresentdayIndiantribeorNHO• RepatriaAon–ThetransferofphysicalcustodyandlegalinterestinNa&veAmericanculturalitemstolinealdescendants,culturallyaffiliatedIndiantribes,andNHOs

What tribes should you consult with?

• Na&onalNAGPRANa&veAmericanConsulta&onDatabase•  Federallyrecognizedtribesinyourstate• Canbeverycomplexinremovalstates,treatyclaims•  Somestateshaverepatria&onalliances–MichiganMACPRA• Assistanceatthestatelevel

•  StateHistoricPreserva&onOffice•  DepartmentofTransporta&on•  PublicUniversi&esandotherins&tu&onswithNAGPRAcollec&ons

NAGPRA is about people and building rela9onships – educate yourself • Buildanddeveloptrust•  Takeinterestinyourconsul&ngtribes–ShowUp

•  Reviewtheirwebsites,learnalilleabouttheirhistory•  Par&cipateintrainingsessions •  Alendtheirpresenta&ons•  Learnabouttheircultureandcurrentconcerns

•  Learnabouttribalsovereigntyandwhatthatmeans•  Learnabouttribale&quelefromotherswhohavebeenthroughtheNAGPRAprocess

2. Based on the totality of the informa9on in its possession, ins9tu9on or Federal agency creates an item-by-item Culturally Affiliated Inventory or Culturally Uniden9fiable Inventory.

3. Within 6 months of comple9ng either type of inventory, ins9tu9on or Federal agency sends copies to appropriate Indian tribe(s) or NHO(s) and publishes a No9ce of Inventory Comple9on in the Federal Registers. No9ces are not claim dependent.

1. Ins9tu9on or Federal agency produces a summary descrip9on of objects in its collec9on that fit, or might fit, one of the categories of cultural item (NAGPRA Summary) and distributes it to all poten9al culturally affiliated tribes or NHOs

2. Ins9tu9on or Federal agency consults with Indian tribes or NHOs, upon request, to iden9fy NAGPRA cultural items.

3. Indian Tribe or NHO submits a wri]en request, and if the request sa9sfies the required criteria, the Ins9tu9on or Federal agency publishes a No9ce of Intent to Repatriate in the Federal Register.

4. Ins9tu9on or Federal agency waits 30 days following publica9on of a Federal register no9ce before transferring control of cultural items, human remains, or associated funerary objects, in case there are compe9ng claims that sa9sfy the required criteria. During the 30 days, there can be consulta9on on transfer of possession. 5. Ins9tu9on or Federal agency must transfer control of item(s) to Indian tribe(s) or NHO(s) within 90 days of receipt of a claim that sa9sfies the required criteria if no excep9ons apply (such as to resolve comple9ng claims) and transfers possession of item(s) based on mutual agreement of all par9es.

Selected NAGPRA Case Studies

Case Study # 1, Pre-NAGPRA

•  Smalllocalmuseum/historicalsocietyinOhio,1982• Humanskull(presumedtobeNa&veAmerican)ondisplay• ReburiedwithhelpoflocalNa&veAmericangroups• Noinvolvementfromfederallyrecognizedtribes• Pre-NAGPRAlaws• Muchdifferentprocesstoday

Case Study # 2, Transfer of Control

•  SmalllocalhistoricalsocietyinOhio,2014–sameen&tyas#1•  Found2femurbonesinclosetfromadona&onyearsbefore• PresumedtobeAmericanIndian• WorkedwithOhioHistoricalSociety(nowOhioHistoryConnec&on,OHC)totransfercontrol• OHCwillconsultwithfederallyrecognizedtribesalongwithalloftheirotherNAGPRAcollec&ons• Muchdifferentprocesspost-NAGPRAthanpre-NAGPRA

Case Study # 3, Assistance

• CountyhistoricalsocietyinIndiana• Apparentlyhavefederalfundsinvolved=NAGPRA“Museum”•  Fivecollec&onsonNa&onalNAGPRADatabase

•  Threecollec&onsweredonatedin1922,1959,andunknowndate•  Twocollec&onscamefromunknownloca&ons

• Askedforouradvicein2013•  BallStatenolongeracceptsNAGPRAcollec&ons•  DirectedthemtoStateHistoricPreserva&onOffice,MiamiTribeofOklahoma,andtocontactNa&onalNAGPRA.OfferedassistancewithNAGPRAGrant.

Case Study # 4, NAGPRA not applicable

•  Smallmuseum/historicalsocietyinOhio•  Sandalsoleshellgorgets,unassociatedfuneraryobjects• Collec&onislocallyowned(nofederalfunds);collec&onisdisplayedinbuildingownedbytheStateofOhio(federalfunds)• Haverela&onshipswithfederalrecognizedtribes• NotrequiredtobelistedonNAGPRAdatabase,butawareofNAGPRA

Case Study # 5, Object of Cultural Patrimony

TheMiamiTribeofOklahomaisencouragingtribesto“toexercisetheirsovereignty,asprovidedforintheNa&ve

AmericanGravesProtec&onandRepatria&onAct,byformallyrepatria&ngtotheirNa&onthoseobjects‘...havingongoinghistorical,tradi0onal,orculturalimportancecentraltothe

IndiantribeorNa0veHawaiianorganiza0on...’

“The impacts of the increased knowledge of historical changes provided by the Miami National Council Books are not purely factual in nature. The words carefully recorded over one hundred pages in two separate volumes

represent a physical and emotional connection with a collective Myaamia past that is no less significant or meaningful than the two chests of ancient wampum belts and painted hides that were destroyed in 1791. All of

these objects were constructed to help Myaamia people recount and remember their stories, historical and otherwise. Wampum and hides are often more readily identified as “Indian” things because they are more obvious in their uniqueness. Perhaps this is because they are not viewed as exotic forms of record keeping by Americans

today. However, the Miami National Council Books embody a record that is just as valuable as the Nation’s more ancient stories. Despite the Council Books reflecting a Euro-American method of governmental documentation, their historical, cultural, and emotional value is paramount because they demonstrate the adaptations Myaamia

people made in order to find a path forward for their Nation and their people.”

Case Study # 6, Culturally Affiliated

Case Study # 7, Culturally Uniden9fiable

• BallStateUniversity,DepartmentofAnthropology•  Federalfunds,classifiedasNAGPRA“Museum”• NAGPRAcollec&onsfromarchaeologyin60sand70s;dona&ons;accidentaldiscoveries,andholdingsfromStateofIndiana• Consulta&onandrepatria&ontodate• NAGPRAgrants• Developingresearchrela&onshipwithtribesinmul&pleways

How can you learn more about NAGPRA?

NAGPRA Resources

• Na&onalNAGPRAwebsite• MostapplicableifyouarenewtoNAGPRAandwanttolearnmore

•  FrequentlyAskQues&ons•  Glossary

• Plus…..•  Training•  OnlineDatabases•  ResourcesforMuseums

NAGPRA Videos and Webinars

•  YouTubeNa&onalNAGPRAProgramchannel• MostapplicableifyouarenewtoNAGPRAandwanttolearnmore

•  NAGPRA(NAGPRAinanutshell)•  TheDevelopmentofNAGPRA•  NAGPRABasicsTraining(2parts)• Webinar:NAGPRAforNewbies

• Plus19othervideosandwebinarsonspecificNAGPRAtopics

Take a Class!

• Na&onalPreserva&onIns&tute•  ScholarshipsandTravelGrantsavailable

NAGPRA is about people and building rela9onships – educate yourself • Buildanddeveloptrust•  Takeinterestinyourconsul&ngtribes–ShowUp

•  Reviewtheirwebsites,learnalilleabouttheirhistory•  Par&cipateintrainingsessions •  Alendtheirpresenta&ons•  Learnabouttheircultureandcurrentconcerns

•  Learnabouttribalsovereigntyandwhatthatmeans•  Learnabouttribale&quelefromotherswhohavebeenthroughtheNAGPRAprocess

Help in your state

•  StateHistoricPreserva&onOffice• ArchaeologistsatStateMuseum• PublicUniversitywithNAGPRACollec&ons• DepartmentofTransporta&on• Repatria&onAlliances•  Learnandsharewithothers!

See Handout

•  Linkstoallresourcesfromthispresenta&on• Addi&onalresourcesthatmaybehelpful

Today we learned

•  Thebasicdefini&onofNAGPRA• WhyNAGPRAisimportant• GeneralNAGPRAprocesses• ReviewedselectedNAGPRAcasestudies• ResourcestolearnmoreaboutNAGPRA

Ques9ons