American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (PL 95-341; 42 USC 1996 and 1996a)
Declared the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including, but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonial and traditional rites.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (PL 101-601; 25 USC 3001-3013)
Assigns ownership or control of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony that are excavated or discovered on federal or tribal lands after 1990 to lineal descendants or culturally affiliated Native American groups; establishes criminal penalties for trafficking in remains or objects obtained in violation of the act; provides that federal agencies and museums that receive federal funding shall inventory Native American human remains and associated funerary objects in their possession or control and identify their cultural and geographical affiliations within 5 years, and prepare summaries of information about Native American unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony. This is to provide for repatriation of such items when lineal descendants or Native American groups request it.
Executive Order 13007 - Indian Sacred Sites (1996)
