National Parks Service offers grants to tribes, other organizations

National Parks Service offers grants to tribes, other organizations
Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages and corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and museums are eligible for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) grants offered by the National Park Service.

NAGPRA is a Federal law that provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items - human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony - to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

Two types of grants are available. Consultation/Documentation Grants are awarded annually and range from $5,000 to $90,000. Applications are due March 2 and draft proposals (optional) must be submitted by Dec. 30 for review and comment.

Repatriation Grants of up to $15,000 are distributed on an ongoing basis, October through June, 2009.

Grant applications are available online at www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/grants or e-mail NAGPRA_Grants@nps.gov or call (202) 354-2203.

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