NAGPRA Native American Grave Protection Repatriation Act

Introduction: The Native American Grave Protection Repatriation Act was set up By the USA senate. Its function is to assist native Americans to approach museums & institutions and request repatriation of human cultural material (Skeletal) and artifacts associated with religious and burial practices. Grants can be applied for by native Americans to assist in their research and claims. Our Trust founder the late Maui Woodbine Pomare made initial contacts with members of this US government organisation and also anthropologists and museum curators who make up the Nagpra review committee. The committee, is divided between native and traditional religious leaders and consists of half museum professionals and archaeologists. Its function to oversee the implementation of NAGPRA and of mediating disputes that arise in the implementation. Our friends at the NAGPRA head office have assisted us in several enquiries especially with the Utah and Nevada campaigns we are currently involved with. Maui was hoping to set up a similar organisation in New Zealand to assist Maori to make claims for the Repatriation of Tupuna and artifacts from NZ Museums. With his untimely death this of course never eventuated. I believe several Australian Aboriginal Tribes were considering setting up a similar organisation however most Museums in Australia have returned their human cultural material to Native Australians. Our friends at Hui Malama have recieved funding for several Kupuna (Tupuna) repatriations even though the US government do not consider Native Hawaiians Native Americans. I attended several NAGPRA hui and envy the Native American populace for the existance of such an important Act. I would like to thank John O'shea of the NAGPRA review committee for assisting me in my research into MOKOMOKAI held in American Institutions. Na Maui Dalvanius Prime Director Mokomokai Education Trust Check out the NAGPRA website http://www.cast.uark.edu/products/NAGPRA/