Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

To provide grants to museums to assist in the consultation on and documentation of Native American human remains and cultural items; to provide grants to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, as defined in the Act, to assist in identifying

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Grants provides funding to help museums, federally recognized Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations consult on, document, and return Native American human remains and cultural items with cultural significance. This program supports the repatriation process, covering activities like consultation, travel, transportation, contamination removal, reburial, storage, and related staff time.

Museum - any institution or State or local government agency (including any institution of higher learning) that receives Federal funds and has possession of, or control over, Native American cultural items. Such term does not include the Smithsonian Institution or any other Federal agency. [25 USC 3001 (8)]. Indian Tribe: Any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. [25 USC 3001 (7)]. The Department of the Interior has interpreted this definition as applying to over 560 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages that are recognized by the United States Government. This list does not include Alaska regional or village corporations, although Alaska Native villages may subcontract work under grants to such corporations. Native Hawaiian Organization: Any organization which serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians, has as a primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians, and has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs, and shall include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei. [25 USC 3001 (11)].

State, local, public nonprofit institution/organization, other public institution/organization, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government, Native American organization, American Indian.

Grant funds must be used for CONSULTATION, DOCUMENTATION, or REPATRIATION under NAGPRA. Consultation and documentation projects should lead to determining control, treatment, and disposition of NAGPRA cultural items. Consultation projects support efforts related to compiling or revising a NAGPRA inventory and making or responding to requests for items in a NAGPRA summary. Documentation projects support determining the geographical origin, cultural affiliation, and other basic facts surrounding the acquisition of Native American cultural items. Repatriation means the transfer of control of Native American human remains and/or cultural items to lineal descendants, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Repatriation includes disposition of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains (CUI) according to 43 C.F.R. 10.11. Repatriation projects defray costs associated with the packaging, transportation, contamination removal, reburial, and/or storage of NAGPRA-related human remains and/or cultural items. The Notice of Funding Opportunity posted with the funding opportunity announcement has further information regarding eligible activities.

Grant funds may not be used for: activities related to the documentation or repatriation of human remains and cultural items from the Smithsonian Institution; activities related to the inadvertent discovery and/or intentional excavation of Native American human remains and other cultural items on Federal or tribal lands pursuant to NAGPRA Section 3 and 43 CFR 10 Subpart B. The Notice of Funding Opportunity posted with the funding opportunity announcement has further information regarding ineligible activities.

Project duration is generally one to two years.

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov, and will include the following: Criterion A - Objectives and Activities; Criterion B - Partnerships; Criterion C - Implementation/Administration; Criterion D - Impact/Evaluation

Proposals received in response to announcements on www.grants.gov are reviewed through a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.

Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov. Generally, applications are reviewed and approved or disapproved by the end of the Federal fiscal year.

If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.