The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a federal law enacted in 1990, established a formal process for museums and institutions that receive federal funding to repatriate human remains, funerary and sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony to lineal descendants, Indigenous Tribes, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Recognizing the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous American Nations, a 2024 update to NAGPRA regulations requires institutions to “obtain free, prior and informed consent prior to allowing any exhibition of, access to, or research on human remains or cultural items.”

The Cincinnati Art Museum prioritizes NAGPRA work. To comply with the 2024 updates, the museum has limited access to its NAGPRA-related objects and is working to open communications and build relationships with affiliated Indigenous communities.

We welcome NAGPRA requests. If you would like to make a request, have information regarding our collections, or would like to talk with someone about objects classified as cultural property, please email us at [email protected]. 

Previous Federal Register publications

Supplemental Resources

• NPS NAGPRA FAQ
• 1993 Summaries *Updated summaries are in process.

Please check back as we update this page with guidelines and resources.