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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.922:  Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

Popular Name:  NAGPRA

Objectives:  (1) To provide grants to museums to assist in the documentation and inventory of Native American human remains and cultural items; (2) to provide grants to Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to assist in identifying human remains and cultural items, including sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, and funerary objects, with which they are culturally affiliated; and (3) to provide grants to museums, Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to assist in the repatriation of human remains and cultural items, including sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, and funerary objects, with which they are culturally affiliated.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

15.922 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  (1) Eligible applicants for museum documentation awards include any institution or State or non-Federal agency (including any institution of higher learning) that has possession of, or control over, Native American human remains or cultural items and which has completed the following NAGPRA obligations: provided a written summary of their Native American collections to culturally affiliated Indian tribes and the Departmental Consulting Archeologist, National Park Service; and submitted an inventory of Native American human remains and associated funerary objects in their collections to culturally affiliated Indian tribes and the Departmental Consulting Archeologist, National Park Service; (2) eligible applicants for tribal documentation and repatriation awards are Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages or corporations, or Native Hawaiian organizations that meet the criteria outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. An Indian tribe is defined in the statute as any tribe, band, Nation, or other organized group or community of Indians which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Alaska Native villages and corporations include those groups or communities defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Native Hawaiian organizations include any organization that: (a) serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians; (b) has as a primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians; and ( c ) has expertise in Native Hawaiian Affairs. NAGPRA states that such Native Hawaiian organizations shall include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O Hawai`I Nei; (3) applications for repatriation awards will only be considered after publication of the required Notice of Inventory Completion or Notice of Intent to Repatriate in the Federal Register.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  (1) Eligible beneficiaries for museum documentation awards include any institution or non-Federal agency (including any institution of higher learning) that has possession of, or control over, Native American human remains or cultural items and which has completed the following NAGPRA obligations: provided a written summary of their Native American collections to culturally affiliated Indian tribes and the Departmental Consulting Archeologist, National Park Service; and submitted an inventory of Native American human remains and associated funerary objects in their collections to culturally affiliated Indian tribes and the Departmental Consulting Archeologist, National Park Service; (2) eligible beneficiaries for tribal documentation and repatriation awards are Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages or corporations, or Native Hawaiian organizations that meet the criteria outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. An Indian tribe is defined in the statute as any tribe, band, Nation, or other organized group or community of Indians which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Alaska Native villages and corporations include those groups or communities defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Native Hawaiian organizations include any organization that: (a) serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians; (b) has as a primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians; and ( c) has expertise in Native Hawaiian Affairs. NAGPRA states that such Native Hawaiian organizations shall include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O Hawai`I Nei; (3) applications for repatriation awards will only be considered after publication of the required Notice of Inventory Completion or Notice of Intent to Repatriate in the Federal Register.

Credentials/Documentation:  Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87 "Cost Principles for State and Local Governments" applies for Indian tribes and State and Local Governments. OMB Circular A-122 applies for nonprofit institutions. OMB Circular No. A-21 applies for universities.

15.922 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372. An Environmental Impact Statement/Assessment is not required for this program.

Application Procedure:  Museums and federally-recognized tribes may apply for annual grants in the form of planned activities and projects. Provisions of 43 CFR Part 12 applies. Applicants may contact the Archeology and Ethnography Program of the National Park Service at (202) 343-8161.

Award Procedure:  Annual appropriation is allocated by the Secretary of the Interior.

Deadlines:  Set dependent upon the date of enactment of appropriations for the fiscal year for which assistance is requested. Contact the Archeology and Ethnography Program of the National Park Service at (202) 343-8161 for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Not applicable.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Grant proposals will be evaluated according to four (4) criteria: Criterion A - Are the objectives of the project consistent with the goals of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act? (Projects that are inconsistent with NAGPRA's goals will not be considered for funding). Special consideration will be given to collaborative proposals, especially those which focus on sharing and disseminating information among multiple museums and/or Indian tribes, or which outline a plan to work with specific Indian tribes and/or museums. Are the project objectives clearly described? (25 points possible) Criterion B - Is the project designed to efficiently accomplish the stated objectives? Are the activities clearly described, in detail, with an explicitly stated link between the activities and the stated objectives? Are activities organized in a logical progression? Are the methods and techniques to be used in the project clearly described? Are the roles and responsibilities of all participants (collaborating institutions and/or project personnel) clearly defined and described? For applicants with previously funded NAGPRA grants, have you included a description of the progress achieved and described how the new project fits with the previously funded one? (25 points possible) Criterion C - Is the budget reasonable to accomplish the project tasks and activities? Are budget items necessary to accomplish project activities? Is the budget sufficiently detailed to show the basis for the cost of items? (25 points possible) Criterion D - Are project personnel qualifications appropriate to accomplish the stated objectives? Does the applicant demonstrate that project personnel are qualified for the activities and tasks for which they are responsible? Are the job descriptions for all unfilled positions and consultancies clearly written? Have search criteria been defined for all unfilled positions and consultancies? (25 points possible)

Examples of Funded Projects:  Documentation of Tlingit Shamanic Practices, Procedures, and Sacred Objects: the project produced a report which outlines Tlingit Shamanic practices and guidelines for the determination of Tlingit sacred objects; Repatriation of a Zuni War God: the grant funded the repatriation of a War God to the Pueblo of Zuni; NAGPRA Documentation and Summary Assessment Projects: a type of grant which provides tribes with the funds necessary to set-up a NAGPRA program and begin organizing information received from museums, researching cultural affiliation and communicating with museums; Consultation with Tribes: a type of grant which provides museums with the funds necessary to finance tribal visits which facilitate consultation and allow dialogue about collections; NAGPRA Compliance Workshops: a type of grant which provides funding for regional workshops and training sessions allowing the broad dissemination of information on the implementation of NAGPRA as well as information tailored to suit a particular locale.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $5,000 to $75,000 for museum and tribal documentation grants; $5,000 to $15,000 for repatriation grants. Average amount for a documentation grant: $64,640. Average amount for a repatriation grant: $8,600.

15.922 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

15.922 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Since 1994, 247 grants totaling about $13.0 million have been awarded to museums and Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations for projects which include the creation of museum/tribe partnerships through staff exchanges; workshops and training opportunities; the coordination of inter-tribal and intra-museum discussions; and hiring tribal repatriation coordinators to prepare and review NAGPRA-related documentation.

15.922 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $2,496,000; FY 00 est $2,472,000; and FY 01 est $2,472,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-1042-0-1-303.

Authorization:  Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA); National Historic Preservation Act, Section 10, Public Law 101-601, 25 U.S.C. 3008.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Guidelines and application material are available upon request from the National Park Service, Archeology & Ethnography Program, 1849 C Street, NW., Room NC 340, Washington, DC 20240, or see Website at www.cr.nps.gov/aad/nagpra.htm.

15.922 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Archeology & Ethnography Program, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Room NC 340 Washington, DC 20240. Phone: (202) 343-8161; Fax(202) 343-5260.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.922 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  There is no statutory apportionment formula; grants are awarded competitively. Nonfederal matching share is not required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants are awarded for up to 18 months. Payments are made upon request for costs incurred.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Project grants may support several of the following: (1) Documentation grants for museums may be used to: a) bring lineal descendants, traditional religious leaders, and Indian tribe, Alaska Native village and corporation, and Native Hawaiian organization officials to inspect collections and consult regarding proper care, treatment, and disposition of Native American cultural items; b) bring traditional religious leaders and Indian tribe, Alaska native village and corporation, and Native Hawaiian organization officials to inspect collections and consult regarding culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains; c) train staff members in techniques for documenting the cultural affiliation of Native American cultural items; d) train staff members in techniques for consulting with Indian tribe, Alaska Native village and corporation, and Native Hawaiian organization representatives and traditional religious leaders; and e) travel by staff members to consult with lineal descendants, traditional religious leaders, and Indian tribe, Alaska Native village and corporation, and Native Hawaiian organization officials regarding the proper care, treatment, and disposition of Native American cultural items; and f) continued documentation of unassociated funerary objects of cultural patrimony in consultation with lineal descendants, traditional religious leaders and Indian tribe, Alaska Native village and corporation, and Native Hawaiian organization officials. (2) Documentation grants for Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations may be used to: a) assess and evaluate summaries, inventories, and other documentation provided by museums and Federal agencies; b) train staff members in techniques for documenting the cultural affiliation of Native American human remains and cultural items; c) train staff members in techniques for consulting with museum and Federal agency officials; d) communicating with museum and Federal agency officials regarding culturally affiliated human remains and cultural items; e) traveling to inspect collections and consult with museum and Federal agency officials regarding proper care, treatment, and disposition of Native American human remains and cultural items; and f) documenting the cultural affiliation of Native American human remains and cultural items currently in the possession of museums and Federal agencies or which might be excavated or discovered on Federal lands. (3) Repatriation grants for museums, Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations may be used for: a) travel by Indian tribe, Alaska Native village and corporation or Native Hawaiian organization or museum representatives to accompany or accept human remains or other cultural items that are being repatriated; b) transportation of Native American human remains or cultural items that are being repatriated; and c) construction of appropriate containers for the transport and disposition of repatriated Native American human remains and cultural items. (4) Grant funds may not be used for tribal activities related to the documentation or repatriation of human remains and cultural items from the Smithsonian Institution; nor for museum or tribal costs of litigation, including expert testimony; care and curation of repatriated Native American human remains and cultural items; construction or renovation of facilities; or purchase of land or buildings.

15.922 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  An Interim Progress Report and a Final Progress Report are required from each grantee. A Federal Cash Transaction Report (SF 272) must be submitted to report expenditure of any Advance Payments made to a grantee.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Full fiscal and project records to be maintained by grantees in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 and A-102 (for Indian tribes and State and Local Governments) or OMB Circular Nos. A-110 (for nonprofit institutions) and A-122 or OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110 (for all other grantees).