Title:	Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Policy
Policy Owner:	Office of the Provost
Applies to:	Faculty, Staff, Others
Campus Applicability:	All campuses, including UConn Health
Effective Date:	April 24, 2019
For More Information, Contact	University NAGPRA Coordinator
Contact Information:	(860) 486-6953
Official Website:	https://provost.uconn.edu/

Reason for Policy:

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony are maintained and repatriated by the University in a respectful, dignified and legally compliant manner as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (“NAGPRA”).  Only items subject to the requirements of NAGPRA are subject to this policy.

Applies to:

Faculty, Staff, Others

Definitions:

This policy references the terms below and uses the definitions that have been assigned to those terms by NAGPRA in 25 U.S.C. §§ 3001–3013 and 43 C.F.R. pt. 10 (as summarized below).

Human remains means physical remains of the body of a person of Native American or Native Hawaiian ancestry.  The University considers human remains to include DNA and other biological derivatives obtained from the body of a person of Native American or Native Hawaiian ancestry.

Funerary objects means items that, as part of the death rite or ceremony of a culture, are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally at the time of death or later with or near individual human remains.

Sacred objects means items that are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American or Native Hawaiian religions by their present-day adherents.

Objects of cultural patrimony means items having ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American or Native Hawaiian organization itself, rather than property owned by an individual organization member.

Policy Statement:

The University is committed to working with lineal descendants and Native American and Native Hawaiian organizations, both federally and non-federally recognized, with respect to 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.  The University is committed to ensuring that all such human remains and cultural items that are part of its collections are appropriately identified and treated with respect during that process.  The University welcomes all Native peoples to campus for NAGPRA consultation.

NAGPRA requires that the University follow a process for reporting information relating to 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 also requires that the University notify and consult with lineal descendants and Native American and Native Hawaiian organizations on human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.

All University personnel must assist the University in fulfilling its legal obligations under NAGPRA.  The Provost will be responsible for designating one or more persons at the University to administer the University’s compliance obligations under NAGPRA and for ensuring that the University appropriately maintains and repatriates human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony in the University’s collections.

No one at the University is authorized to acquire for the University or accept on the University’s behalf any Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony without the prior written approval of the Provost or his or her authorized designee.  This includes any acquisition of such items by donation, loan or gift, as well as any acquisition of such items in connection with any teaching, research or other University-related activities.

Procedures:

The Provost’s office will develop procedures to this policy that outline the manner in which the University follows the requirements of NAGPRA with respect to Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony in the University’s collections.

Click here to view procedures for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Policy.

Enforcement:

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and other applicable University Policies.

Related Information:

For information and resources on NAGPRA including links to the most current versions of the law and regulations visit NPS National NAGPRA website: www.nps.gov/nagpra.

Contact Sarah Sportman, the University’s NAGPRA Coordinator, at sarah.sportman@uconn.edu for additional information. 

Policy History:

Adopted 04/24/2019 [Approved by the President’s Cabinet]