FY2023 NAGPRA Repatriation Grants | P23AS00093

Opportunity Information: Apply for P23AS00093

The FY2023 NAGPRA Repatriation Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P23AS00093) is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Park Service under CFDA 15.922. Its purpose is narrowly focused: funds must be used specifically for repatriation activities carried out under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In practical terms, repatriation here means the transfer of control of Native American human remains and/or certain cultural items to the appropriate lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. The scope also explicitly includes work related to culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains, when disposition is handled in accordance with the process described at 43 CFR 10.11.

The grant is intended to cover real, on-the-ground costs that can make repatriation difficult to carry out even after decisions have been made. Supported project expenses include packaging and preparing human remains or cultural items for transfer, transportation and shipping, contamination removal when needed to make handling or reburial safe and appropriate, reburial costs, and temporary storage tied directly to NAGPRA-related repatriation. The program is therefore geared toward helping recipients complete the final, practical steps required to return ancestors and cultural items, rather than funding unrelated collection work or general operations.

Eligibility is centered on the entities that are directly involved in NAGPRA repatriation. Applicants may include Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. For purposes of this program, an Indian Tribe is understood as a federally recognized tribe, band, nation, or other organized Indian group or community, including Alaska Native villages recognized by the United States. The Department of the Interior interprets this as applying to the 574 federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages; the Bureau of Indian Affairs maintains the official list at www.bia.gov. Alaska regional or village corporations are not included in the federal recognition list for this purpose, although they may participate as project partners. Native Hawaiian Organizations are also eligible when they serve and represent Native Hawaiian interests, have a primary stated purpose of providing services to Native Hawaiians, and demonstrate expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs; NAGPRA notes that this category includes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Museums may also apply, but only when they have control of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony and have received federal funds. The term "museum" is used broadly and can include state or local government agencies, private institutions, and colleges or universities that have received federal funding. However, museums found to be out of compliance with NAGPRA may be excluded from consideration. Federal agencies and the Smithsonian Institution are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.

The announcement also flags performance and compliance expectations for repeat applicants. Applicants that previously received a NAGPRA grant but allowed it to expire without completing major elements of the proposed work, or without meeting award conditions, may be penalized during review. The opportunity lists a range of eligible applicant types in the source data (including various levels of government, higher education, nonprofits, and tribal entities), but the narrative eligibility description makes clear that awards are tied to NAGPRA roles and responsibilities, particularly tribes/NHOs and qualifying museums with relevant control and federal funding history. For anyone uncertain about whether they qualify, the announcement directs applicants to contact the awarding agency using the contact information provided in Section G.

Key logistics from the notice include an award ceiling of $15,000 per grant and an original closing date of May 12, 2023, with the opportunity created on November 18, 2022.

• The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2023 NAGPRA Repatriation Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.922.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for P23AS00093

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