The National Park Service (NPS) announced via the attached FEDERAL REGISTER notice that it is seeking nominations from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional Native American religious leaders for one member to serve on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation (NAGPRA) Review Committee. Nominations must be received by August 31, 2015.
The Review Committee consists of seven members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, three of whom are appointed from nominations submitted by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional Native American religious leaders. At least two of these three members must be traditional Indian religious leaders. NPS states in the notice that the member they are currently seeking nominations for need not be a traditional Indian religious leader. Membership on the Review Committee is for a period of four years.
The NAGPRA Review Committee is responsible for:
1) Monitoring the NAGPRA inventory and identification process;
2) Reviewing and making findings related to the identity or cultural affiliation of cultural items or the return of such items;
3) Facilitating the resolution of disputes;
4) Compiling an inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains and developing a process for disposition of such remains;
5) Consulting with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations and museums on matters within the scope of the work of the Review Committee affecting such tribes or organizations;
6) Consulting with the Secretary of the Interior in the development of regulations to carry out NAGPRA; and
7) Making recommendations regarding future care of repatriated cultural items.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the National Park Service’s request for nominations to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee.
