Repatriation Beyond NAGPRA
| Instructor: | Amy L. Covell-Murthy |
|---|---|
| Course Date: | June 2, 2025 |
| Cost: | $400 |
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) has come a long way in the last three decades, but museums still have a lot of work to do, and repatriation doesn’t begin and end with the mandates laid out in the regulations. If this work is to be effective and adhere to the spirit of the law, museum practitioners will need to go above and beyond basic compliance by engaging in relationship building, restitution, and authentic storytelling.
This four-week course uses case studies, weekly readings, guest speakers, and discussion to delve into the possibilities, complications, and practice of repatriation beyond NAGPRA.
Course Objective
This course begins with a review of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and a discussion focused on the complexities of affiliation, then delves into relationship building and global repatriations, and concludes with a robust discussion regarding the future of repatriation. Combining personal experience, resources, and guest discussants, this course aims to provide tips, tools, and inspiration for positive repatriation initiatives.
Participant Outcomes
Participants will:
- gain a basic understanding of repatriation both NAGPRA related and international.
- learn about relationship building between institutions and Indigenous communities.
- become aware of some of the barriers and nuances that contribute to the complexity of repatriation work.
- understand the need for authentic storytelling that can be a byproduct of successful repatriation.
- have examples and tools to help advocate for robust and proactive repatriation processes.
- leave inspired and confident about future initiatives and the benefits of repatriation.
Too learn more about taking an online professional development course with Museum Study visit What is involved in taking a Museum Study course?
Required Text:
Murawski, Mike 2021,
Museums as Agents of Change: A Guide to Becoming a Changemaker,
Rowman & Littlefield, 132 pages.
Museum Study students can take advantage of a special offer from
Rowman & Littlefield to purchase the book at a discount.