ABSTRACT
Since its passage in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) has created a new relationship between Indian tribes, Native Alaskan groups, and Native Hawaiian organizations and federal agencies and museums that receive federal funds (e.g. Goldstein and Kintigh 1990; Goldstein 1992; McManamon 1994, 1998; Ferguson 1996; Rose et al. 1996; Dongoske et al. 2000). This chapter focuses on how Federal agencies are implementing the law and the challenges they are facing. Although museums are not considered in this chapter (but see Isaac Chapter 12), it is important to note that most museums in the United States receive public funds and have the same responsibilities as agencies regarding the collections they hold. In some instances, specific agency offices and museums are working closely because agency collections are held by many museums.
