NAGPRA for Cultural Resource Managers: Practical Compliance, Consultation, and Repatriation Responsibilities

Description

This highly practical and applied workshop is designed for federal agency cultural resource managers and field-level professionals responsible for complying with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The course provides participants with a clear, working understanding of NAGPRA requirements as they apply to day-to-day land management, project planning, collections management, and consultation responsibilities.

Using real-world scenarios, case examples, and applied exercises, this training moves beyond basic statutory awareness to focus on how NAGPRA functions in practice, how it differs from and intersects with NEPA, NHPA Section 106, and ARPA; how to appropriately engage in consultation with Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations, and how to carry out inventories, summaries, discoveries, and repatriation actions in a legally defensible and culturally respectful manner.

Particular emphasis is placed on recent regulatory updates and evolving best practices, including strengthened consultation standards, the use of Indigenous Knowledge, revised approaches to cultural affiliation, and the increased responsibility on federal agencies to proactively facilitate repatriation. The workshop is designed to give participants the confidence, clarity, and practical tools needed to fulfill their NAGPRA responsibilities while working effectively with Tribes, agency leadership, legal counsel, museums,universities and project teams.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to do the following:

  • • Understand the purpose, scope, and legal requirements of NAGPRA and how it applies to federal agencies, museums, and federal collections in the custody of museums and universities.

    • Distinguish NAGPRA responsibilities from NEPA, NHPA Section 106 and ARPA compliance, and recognize when multiple statutes apply to the same undertaking.

    • Identify when NAGPRA applies to planned activities, inadvertent discoveries, legacy collections, and existing holdings.

    • Conduct and document effective consultation with Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations in accordance with current regulatory expectations.

    • Understand inventory, summary, and notice requirements and how they support lawful and timely repatriation.

    • Apply current standards for determining cultural affiliation and appropriate disposition, including the consideration of Indigenous Knowledge.

    • Respond appropriately to inadvertent discoveries and unanticipated findings involving human remains or cultural items.

    • Support defensible decision-making while honoring Tribal sovereignty and cultural values.

Content

  • Introduction to NAGPRA

  • Purpose, intent, and key definitions; overview of agency and museum responsibilities; scope of applicability.

    1. NAGPRA in the Cultural Resource Compliance Framework

  • How NAGPRA intersects with NEPA, NHPA Section 106 and ARPA; understanding parallel and sequential compliance obligations.

    1. Consultation Under NAGPRA

  • Who must be consulted, when consultation is required, and how to conduct consultation consistent with current regulatory and policy expectations.

    1. Inventories, Summaries, and Notices

  • Practical guidance on preparing inventories and summaries, publishing notices, and maintaining defensible records.

    1. Cultural Affiliation and Indigenous Knowledge

  • Applying updated standards for determining cultural affiliation, including the appropriate consideration of Indigenous Knowledge and multiple lines of evidence.

    1. Inadvertent Discoveries and Project Implementation

  • Required actions when discoveries occur during project activities; notification, coordination, timelines, and documentation requirements.

    1. Repatriation and Disposition Processes

  • Roles and responsibilities in facilitating repatriation; agency obligations to support timely and respectful disposition.

    1. Case Studies and Applied Scenarios

  • Real-world examples illustrating common NAGPRA challenges, consultation issues, and lessons learned.

    1. Roles, Responsibilities, and Best Practices

  • Clarifying expectations for cultural resource managers and project teams in meeting NAGPRA obligations consistently and defensibly.

Audience

This course is designed for cultural resource managers, archaeologists, museum and collections staff, land managers, environmental planners, project managers, and other professionals responsible for implementing or supporting NAGPRA compliance. It is particularly beneficial for staff who routinely encounter NAGPRA-related issues but do not specialize exclusively in repatriation or Tribal consultation. The training is appropriate for both newer practitioners seeking foundational clarity and experienced professionals looking to strengthen consistency, consultation practices, and defensibility under current regulations.

Process

This workshop is offered as a 1- or 2-day in-person or virtual course and includes:

  • 60% Instruction / Lecture

  • 40% Applied Exercises, Case Studies, and Group Discussion

Materials

Participants receive a comprehensive workshop manual designed to support instruction and serve as an ongoing reference for NAGPRA compliance, consultation, and repatriation responsibilities.