Kansas University has named Thomas Foor, a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Montana, to a new, temporary position as coordinator of compliance with the federal Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

In that position, which began Sunday, Foor will develop a strategic plan for the Anthropological Research and Cultural Collections (ARCC) at KU and will work with KU staff and representatives of American Indian tribes to complete repatriation as specified under NAGPRA.

NAGPRA was designed to help Indian nations tell their story about items long held by institutions and the federal government, said Foor.