collecting or transport of archeological materials obtained from Federal or Native land.

NAGPRA, however, opened a new era of dialogue between Native American groups

and museum collections departments. NAGPRA required all museums funded with

federal monies to abide by new collections standards. Museums were required to

inventory their collections and initiate a consultation with each tribe if the museum held

collections in one of the four categories of objects defined by NAGPRA: Native

American human remains, grave goods, ceremonial objects, and objects of cultural

patrimony. The museums then needed to consult with Tribal representatives to decide

the object's future care. Through NAGPRA, American Indians have reclaimed cultural

sovereignty over NAGPRA-defined objects. Once Native American groups were

informed of sacred objects in museum collections, a number of groups requested

access to collections storage to perform spiritual rites for the objects in the museum's

care. Registrars worked with Native groups to develop procedures for access while

maintaining the integrity of preserving conditions of the storage space. Additionally,

museums were required by the federal government to establish more transparent

collecting records which outlined the provenance of each object. After museums

regularly began to address NAGPRA's requirements involving Native collections,

cultural critics, Native groups, and the general public were reassured by additional

museum efforts to abide by more transparent and collaborative collections policies and

practices.

New Forms of Native Collections Accessibility

       Museums are in the process of increasing Native collections accessibility as they

embrace their role as collections stewards; this increase in access to Native objects has

the potential to empower American Indians in reclaiming cultural practices. In the past