NAGPRA
Confirmation of Commitment
The University of Georgia (UGA) recognizes the profound importance of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)1 To this end, UGA is fully committed to the ethical and expeditious repatriation of all Native American Ancestral human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony (hereafter Ancestors and cultural items) within its possession or control2 to Lineal Descendants, Federally Recognized Native American Tribe(s), and Native Hawaiian Organizations, as defined under NAGPRA.
In honoring its legal and ethical obligations, UGA is dedicated to upholding the utmost respect for Tribal sovereignty, a cornerstone of our commitment. We engage in highly collaborative NAGPRA efforts that prioritize the interests of Lineal Descendants, Federally Recognized Native American Tribe(s), and Native Hawaiian Organizations. A newly established NAGPRA policy and its effective implementation demonstrate this commitment. This policy3 establishes a NAGPRA Committee4, which operates in conjunction with the Office of Research Integrity & Safety and the Laboratory of Archaeology, to safeguard and ensure the ethical treatment of Ancestors and cultural items and the good faith discovery process of University units that may have possession or control of Ancestors and cultural items. The NAGPRA policy also establishes a NAGPRA Tribal Liaison Subcommittee responsible for all communications with Lineal Descendants, Federally Recognized Native American Tribe(s), and Native Hawaiian Organizations.
All Ancestors and cultural items within the possession or control of UGA are eligible for consultation. UGA will make every effort to accommodate the timeframe, practical needs, stewardship, conservation, and care needs of our Tribal partners during the process. UGA respects that Indigenous people were the original stewards of the land we now call Georgia, and their descendants exist today and retain that connection. This statement reflects UGA’s sincere efforts to foster a culture of care for Ancestors and cultural items.
It is recognized that the NAGPRA process at UGA is ongoing and that this work is highly sensitive for the Lineal Descendants, Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, and Native Hawaiian Organizations that are consulted. A set of frequently asked questions has been compiled to address many queries regarding the NAGPRA process at UGA.
END NOTES
1 The Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act (1990), Public Law 101-601
2 Possession or control is defined as having sufficient interest in an item to direct, manage, oversee, or restrict use of that item. To learn more about NAGPRA terminology, visit the NAGPRA glossary.
3 UGA NAGPRA Policy (2024)