The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 provides a federal legal framework for the repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items from institutions receiving federal funding.

NAGPRA’s requirements are specific:

Federal agencies and institutions receiving federal funding must inventory their holdings of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.

They must consult with culturally affiliated tribes and lineal descendants.

Upon request from affiliated tribes or descendants, they must return the remains and items.

NAGPRA also applies to graves on federal and tribal lands, prohibiting excavation without appropriate permissions and requiring that remains discovered on federal land be handled in consultation with affiliated tribes.

The Geronimo skull controversy sits in an uncomfortable relationship with NAGPRA for several reasons.