NAGPRA Consultation
The Laboratory welcomes consultation with lineal descendants, federally recognized Native American Tribe(s), and Native Hawaiian organizations and their representatives. It is the Laboratory’s intent to meet the priorities of Tribe(s) for consultation. The Laboratory looks forward to meeting both the intent and spirit of the NAGPRA statute. Therefore, the Laboratory looks forward to using NAGPRA consultation as a way to improve or expand relationship building, communication, and collaboration, whether through NAGPRA, other research, or community engagement and outreach opportunities. The Laboratory welcomes all suggestions related to this process.
The Laboratory recognizes that consultation is a long-term process and will require multiple dialogues and/or visits. Consultation should be ongoing throughout the entire NAGPRA process, and the Laboratory will make all attempts to ensure that this occurs. Further, the Laboratory wants consultation to be catered to the wishes of Tribe(s). Consultation can include but is not limited to the following:
- Full access to all documentation, media, and collections
- Assisting the Laboratory in reviewing and determining cultural affiliation
- Viewing all or specific portions of collections during any part of the NAGPRA process
- Assisting the Laboratory in identifying additional NAGPRA material. For example, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony
- Visits to the Laboratory to discuss and/or view NAGPRA collections; the Laboratory will to the best of our ability accommodate special considerations for the visit
- Multiple Emails, phone calls, and video meetings to discuss additional information on NAGPRA collections and the NAGPRA database
- Identifying and enacting individualized traditional care practices through care in trust agreements
- If requested, drafting of MOUs or other contracts during consultation
- If requested, the Laboratory can discuss the return or destruction of written and/or electronic records with detailed cultural knowledge provided during consultation to establish affiliation or for other purposes. However, such requests will be subject to applicable Georgia state laws and University System of Georgia policies concerning the retention of records. Regardless, the Laboratory will not use the detailed cultural knowledge received from Tribe(s) for any purpose other than in connection with the agreed purpose of the consultation, whether that is to establish affiliation or otherwise. The Laboratory will not disclose the detailed cultural knowledge to any person not involved in the consultation without the relevant Tribe’s prior consent, unless required by law, court order, or other legal process.