Title
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program Consultation/Documentation Grant (Ordinance S-50647)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept and, if awarded, enter into agreements with the National Parks Service for the 2024 National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Program Consultation/Documentation Grant. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a federal law which requires museums that receive federal funds to complete inventories and summaries of Native American cultural items in their collections. It is intended to facilitate the repatriation of Native American human remains (ancestors), funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. The law also requires museums to consult with culturally affiliated Native American tribes.
In 2017, the City received one NAGPRA grant which focused on the documentation of ancestors in the collection of S’edav Va’aki Museum (SVM, formerly Pueblo Grande Museum). This grant resulted in the repatriation of over 300 Ancestors and over 600 funerary objects from the collections.
In consultation with Native American tribes, SVM has identified additional issues with potential funerary objects in its collection. Under NAGPRA, a funerary object is “any object reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains… either at the time of death or later, to a death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture…” The question with objects in the collection at SVM is with the research methods used to identify the objects. Prior to 2017, research methods used the standard of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” to identify funerary objects in the collection. The current standard of proof required by law is “preponderance of the evidence” which is a lower standard.
To remedy this issue, the Parks and Recreation Department requests permission to apply for a NAGPRA Consultation/Documentation Grant. The large amount of time and specialized skill required by this project necessitates the documentation be conducted by individuals with professional experience doing archaeological research, working with archaeological objects and writing NAGPRA summaries and notices.
The grant will be used to pay for contracted researchers at SVM to review project reports, field notes and context information for archaeological specimens. The researchers will then make recommendations regarding objects that are reasonably believed to be funerary objects and will also identify potential sacred objects which may need repatriation as well.
The contractor will write the legally required NAGPRA paperwork which includes summaries to be sent to Native American tribes, as well as notices to be published in the Federal Register. SVM will use the information generated by this research to consult with Native American tribes concerning the identification of funerary objects and sacred objects. The cost of this contracted work is beyond the scope of the Parks and Recreation Department budget; therefore, the department would like to apply for the National NAGPRA Program Consultation/Documentation Grant. The United States Department of the Interior administers these funds through the National Parks Service.
Financial Impact
If awarded, the grant will provide up to $100,000 to review the archaeological collection at SVM. No matching funds are required.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was heard by the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee on Feb. 21, 2024, and approved by a vote of 4-0.
Location
S’edav Va’aki Museum, 4619 E. Washington St.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Parks and Recreation Department.