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University of Montana ramps up NAGPRA repatriation and tribal stewardship work
Summary
University of Montana NAGPRA staff described a decade of trust‑building with THPOs, new student liaisons and a push to indigenize collections stewardship; staff warned that poor historic records and FOIA/privacy concerns slow repatriation and complicate reporting metrics.
University of Montana anthropology faculty and student liaisons updated the State Tribal Relations Committee on an expanded NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) effort.
Professor Kelly Dixon said the university has shifted from a Western‑driven collections model to one where tribes direct repatriation decisions and create culturally appropriate stewardship. Dixon described new federal NAGPRA regulations and an institutional heritage board that now consults regularly with THPOs and elder committees. The university has hired student liaisons to work with each THPO in Montana and is building inventories and interactive tools so elder committees can review items without traveling.
Panelists cautioned that century‑old collecting practices mean the university sometimes lacks provenance details, making repatriation and attribution complex. They also raised FOIA and privacy concerns: some tribes consider inventory details sensitive and argued for careful handling of public reporting. Dixon said donors, museums and legislative budget reviewers request metrics, but staff prioritize trust and culturally safe processes.
Committee members asked about campus construction protocols and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office; Dixon said the university is negotiating programmatic agreements and trying to ensure "call before you plan" practices are followed in development.
The committee did not take action but acknowledged NAGPRA work as a continuing priority requiring sustained funding and interagency coordination.
