Columbia University Libraries respects the rights of Native American, Native Hawaiian, global Indigenous, and historically marginalized peoples from all cultures and places of origin to seek repatriation of their ancestral remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. For materials subject to the North American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), CUL is committed to complying with the regulations that went into effect on January 12, 2024. For materials not subject to NAGPRA, including global Indigenous and non-Indigenous materials of cultural significance acquired under illegitimate circumstances (e.g., those obtained through looting, warfare, or coercive colonial extraction), CUL aims to adopt restitution and return practices that reflect the values and policies outlined in Ethical Collecting & Stewardship: Acknowledgements, Values, and Policies.

To initiate a repatriation or return request, or to arrange in-person or virtual consultation with or about objects for which the Libraries is the current custodian, please contact us directly at distcolls@library.columbia.edu

Columbia University Libraries offers travel funding to support Indigenous community members who seek to further community-based priorities in understanding and administration of their unique Indigenous cultural heritage materials held by the Libraries. Funding is limited and interested researchers are encouraged to contact us well in advance of the proposed visit. The Libraries can purchase flights and hotel rooms directly, on behalf of the visitor. Reimbursement of any additional travel costs such as baggage fees, ground transportation, and meals will require the visitor to register as a vendor in the Columbia system.

To apply for funding, please email distcolls@library.columbia.edu with a short description of your goals and the materials you wish to consult, as well as proposed visit dates.

Requests that are specific to repatriation should also be sent to distcolls@library.columbia.edu.