NAGPRA Community of Practice
The NAGPRA Community of Practice group is based out of the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology (DUMA), and is an excellent resource for anyone who is actively involved in or interested in the NAGPRA process.
Vision: A community that is supported, connected, and empowered to facilitate repatriation.
Mission: The NAGPRA Community of Practice provides space to share experiences, concerns, and successes to decrease misunderstanding and hesitancy and to foster relationships and healing.
Wisconsin NAGPRA COP
Although not directly associated with the NAGPRA Community of Practice (above), the Wisconsin NAGPRA COP group was founded as an intended "unofficial subgroup" of this larger working group, serving the same vision and mission, but focusing more closely on the state of Wisconsin.
Vision: A community, located in or with an interest in Wisconsin, that is supported, connected, and empowered to facilitate repatriation.
Mission: The Wisconsin NAGPRA Community of Practice provides space to share experiences, concerns, and successes to decrease misunderstanding and hesitancy and to foster relationships and healing in the state of Wisconsin.
If you are interested in joining this group, please Contact the Campus NAGPRA Coordinator (see "Contact Us" in the menu at the top of the page). Requests to join are vetted to ensure all members will abide by the group's vision and mission.
The link provided in this box leads to a password-protected web page for members of the group.
Members of the Wisconsin NAGPRA COP group actively collaborate to provide useful resources and data for the purpose of facilitating repatriation in this state.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What do I do if I find human remains?
If you believe you have found a burial or human bone, you should contact your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible. A deputy or police officer will be sent to your location to determine if that area is an active crime scene. If the burial or exposed remains are determined to be of a historic or pre-contact age, the county coroner and qualified professionals from the Wisconsin Historical Society can further help to comply with local, state and federal laws.
I might have found a Native American artifact. How can I learn more about it?
Contact UW-Madison’s Curator of Anthropology with details and photographs of your find. She is happy to answer questions and provide additional resources to help you!
Please note that it is illegal to collect artifacts from public lands (that include county, state, and national parks). Please ensure that you have documented approval from the landowner if you collect anything taken from land that you do not own.
What do I do if I want to donate my collection?
If the collection is not eligible for repatriation through NAGPRA law (human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony), contact UW-Madison’s Curator of Anthropology with details about and photographs of the collection. Your request will be reviewed by the Anthropology Collections Committee. If approved, you will be asked to fill out a Deed of Gift Form prior to physical transfer.
If all or part of the collection is eligible for repatriation through NAGPRA law, the UW-Madison’s Campus NAGPRA Coordinator can assist you with contacting the appropriate tribe(s) to facilitate a direct transfer.