University of Connecticut NAGPRA Procedures:
The Provost will designate one or more persons at the University to help administer the University’s compliance obligations under NAGPRA. That person(s) is referred to as the “NAGPRA Coordinator(s)” for purposes of these procedures. The NAGPRA Coordinator will be responsible for working in close consultation with lineal descendants and Native American and Native Hawaiian organizations in identifying any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that are maintained by the University, and on determinations of cultural affiliation and repatriation of Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, that are part of the University’s collections.
NAGPRA Review Group
The Provost will establish a NAGPRA review group to assist the NAGPRA Coordinator in the administration of the University’s compliance obligations under NAGPRA and to report recommendations on cultural affiliation and repatriation to the Provost. This review group will be chaired by an appointee designated by the Provost and will include the State Archaeologist, members from the Department of Anthropology and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and other offices at the University who maintain human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony. The representatives of the review committee will be responsible for communicating and involving the departments, museums and other University offices they represent on matters relating to the University’s compliance obligations under NAGPRA.
Use of Human Remains in Teaching and Research
The NAGPRA review group must be notified of any teaching or research being conducted at the University or by faculty or staff from the University that involves the use of Native American or Native Hawaiian human remains.
NAGPRA Collections
The NAGPRA Coordinator will work with the NAGPRA review group and departments, museums and other University offices to help maintain a centralized record of all Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony maintained by the University, such record will include the location(s) of the relevant items and any NAGPRA-related reports or communications relating to such items.
NAGPRA Reporting & Process Initiation
The NAGPRA Coordinator will inform the NAGPRA review group and the Provost upon becoming aware of any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items maintained by the University that were not previously reported under NAGPRA. The NAGPRA Coordinator will initiate a NAGPRA process for any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items maintained by the University. This will include consulting with lineal descendants and Native American and Native Hawaiian organizations prior to making any recommendation as to cultural affiliation or repatriation. The NAGPRA Coordinator must consult with the NAGPRA review group and the Provost’s office prior to completing a summary or inventory under NAGPRA.
Cultural Affiliation Recommendations
The NAGPRA Coordinator will make a proposed recommendation of cultural affiliation, when appropriate, for any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony maintained by the University to the NAGPRA review group. The NAGPRA review group will review and evaluate such recommendations.
The chair of the NAGPRA review group will submit a proposed recommendation of cultural affiliation, reflecting the initial recommendation provided by the NAGPRA Coordinator and the comments of the NAGPRA review group, to the Provost. The Provost is the only University official authorized to make determinations of cultural affiliation under NAGPRA with respect to Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony maintained by the University.
Repatriation Recommendations
The NAGPRA Coordinator will be responsible for identifying appropriate claimant(s) and making a proposed recommendation of repatriation, when appropriate, for any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony maintained by the University to the NAGPRA review group. The NAGPRA review group will review and evaluate such recommendations.
The chair of the NAGPRA review group will submit a proposed recommendation of repatriation, reflecting the initial recommendation provided by the NAGPRA Coordinator and the comments of the NAGPRA review group, to the Provost. The Provost is the only University official authorized to make a recommendation of repatriation under NAGPRA with respect to Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony maintained by the University.