NAGPRA Program Lead

Position Overview

The NAGPRA Program Lead coordinates compliance, consultations, repatriations, and other activities associated with ensuring MSU’s compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) federal regulation by coordinating inventory and curation of Native American artifacts and remains. This position will work to strengthen MSU’s NAGPRA program and will report directly to the Associate Vice President of Research Compliance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a detailed MSU NAGPRA policy, in coordination with the MSU NAGPRA team (team includes representatives from the Museum of the Rockies, the academic departments of Native American Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, History and Philosophy, Earth Sciences, and other units as appropriate), Legal Counsel, and Administration, ensuring compliance with NAGPRA and all applicable laws and policies.
• Update and manage inventories of ancestral human remains and NAGPRA-eligible objects in MSU collections, compile cultural affiliation documents, and prepare Federal notices and communications.
• Work closely with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO) and/or their designees to coordinate tribal access to, as well as repatriation and disposition of, human remains and cultural items and archaeological collections in MSU’s custody.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all NAGPRA inquiries seeking information about Native American remains and objects falling under NAGPRA regulations.
• Represent MSU as lead NAGPRA staff at regular meetings with tribal government officials and representatives to coordinate compliance, address tribal concerns, and when possible, negotiate culturally sensitive resolutions.
• Advance MSU’s NAGPRA standing through attendance at conferences and workshops, service on advisory panels, and holding office or performing relevant committee assignments in professional organizations.
• Collaborate and consult closely with the MSU NAGPRA team representatives in matters of compliance and procedure.
• Develop and submit grant proposals and funding requests to support NAGPRA activities.
• Administer NAGPRA-related budgets and purchase all necessary materials and supplies.
• Establish work priorities and supervise all employees assigned to them in support of these tasks.
• Work with MSU’s Legal Counsel on MOUs for non-NAGPRA repatriation.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or related field that provided experience with cultural collections management and collaborating with tribal nations on repatriation plans; or three years equivalent experience working with American Indian tribes to repatriate NAGPRA related or other items of cultural significance, or working with descent communities and caring for culturally significant objects; and/or equivalent training, education or experience with traditional Tribal Elders, Tribal Cultural Departments and Historians, or Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.
• At least one year of experience working with institutions on collections-related ethical and legal commitments, including but not limited to NAGPRA and 36 C.F.R. § 79, “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archeological Collections.”
• Experience working with archaeological methods, archaeological collections, and culturally sensitive artifacts, including experience handling ancestral remains, funerary objects and other cultural objects.
• Knowledgeable about the Indigenous communities of Montana, especially with tribes affiliated with different geographical categories i.e. coastal, plains, northern plains, basin, etc.
• Knowledge of the principles of government-to-government consultation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or related field with specialized practice involving relationships and substantive consultation with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and direct experience with: (a) tribal consultation practices and processes, b) building and initiating positive working relationships with tribes and tribal citizens; and © NAGPRA.
• Experience working with collections management (or other related cultural heritage field) on projects that are informed and/or designed by Indigenous perspectives.
• Experience with writing summary and cultural affiliation reports and “Notices of Inventory Completion” and “Notices of Intent to Repatriate” for compliance with NAGPRA.
• Experience with programmatic agreements.
• Knowledge of North American Indigenous History, Archaeology, and related ‘Curation Crisis’ History.