The need for adequate federal funding - Numerous witnesses at the hearing expressed their concern that inadequate funding could thwart the efforts of museums to comply with NAGPRA and limit the ability of tribes to take advantage of the opportunities that the Act provides. In the five years since NAGPRA was enacted, AIRORF has observed a significant change in the relationship between museums and Native Americans tension has often given way to a more understanding, cooperative relationship as NAGPRA-prompted interactions have taken place. It would be tragic if this unique intercultural opportunity were to be lost due to a lack of funds to implement this landmark legislation. Thus, we support the requests for $10 million for NAGPRA funding made by a number of the witnesses at the hearing. The future treatment of culturally unidentifiable remains AIRORF fully endorses the NAGPRA Review Committee's preliminary recommendation that "[u]ltimately, decisions about what happens to the [culturally unidentifiable] remains of Native American individuals from anywhere in the United States and associated funerary objects should rest in the hands of Native Americans." The inclusion of associated funerary objects in its proposal is a particularly welcome and important part of the recommendation by the Review Committee. AIRORF urges Congress to provide such legislative authority as may be needed to effectuate this worthwhile goal. AIRORF's board, staff and consultants have a great deal of expertise in the field of repatriation and include traditional Native Americans, social science and legal experts and individuals with lengthy and diverse museum experience. AIRORF would be more than happy to share this expertise with the Senate Committee and work with the Committee in any way that the Committee might find helpful. AIRORF is greatly appreciative of the Committee's ongoing interest in ensuring that the NAGPRA is fully and successfully implemented. TESTIMONY OF CECIL F. ANTONE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, ARIZONA DECEMBER 6, 1995, WASHINGTON, D.C. The Gila River Indian Community (the “Community”) is honored to provide testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ("NAGPRA"). I first express my personal thanks and the appreciation of the Community to Senator McCain and Senator Inouye for their dedication and devotion in causing the passage of NAGPRA. Indian tribes now have the legal authority to repatriate their cultural and spiritual items. The Community is especially thankful for the authority because Pimas and Maricopas of the Community, in compliance with our respective traditions, feel every effort must be made to repatriate our ancestors to their homeland. The Community, over the last three years, has received more than 150 letters from various museums and federal agencies regarding the disposition of collections as required by the Act. There is an obvious need for the regulations mandated by NAGPRA to be promulgated as Indian Tribes throughout the United States are now grappling with the sometimes complex repatriation issues. The Community and other O'Odham tribes, the Salt-River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Tohono O'odham Nation have developed pragmatic and effective understandings and agreements with federal agencies for consultation and mediation of specific archeological properties. Our most recent agreement was with the United States Air Force and involved funerary objects and human remains on the land where Williams Air Force Basc was formerly located. The closure of Williams Air Force Base Testimony of Cecil F. Antone, Lt. Governor Gila River Indian Community Page 2 of 3 near our Reservation caused us to act to protect the funerary objects and remains. We recognize that NAGPRA has not been fully implemented and we urge this Committee make every effort to cause the complete implementation of NAGPRA, The Community does have a positive history and experience in repatriation of human remains and funerary objects. This has occurred through our efforts and in accordance with the laws of Arizona. Since 1989, the four O'Odham tribes have reburied more than 3,000 ancestors. The Community has established a relationship with the Arizona State Museum based on mutual respect and this has resulted in a high degree of cooperation in the repatriation of human remains and funerary objects. However, one of the difficulties that Indian tribes face is the lack of physical resources to house collections as the collections are transferred and received from museum institutions and federal agencies. Federal funds were not identified in NAGPRA and the current restrictions on federal funding makes it difficult to develop and construct the necessary facilities to house collections. It is apparent that Indian tribes must develop partnerships with federal and state agencies. The Community has taken steps to enter into cooperative agreements with governmental entities. For instance, in November 1995, the Bureau of Reclamation agreed to develop and construct a repository to house all Central Arizona Project archeological material collected during the construction of the Project. The repository will be located on Community lands. As part of our commitment to this agreement, the Community will be utilizing its resources to support and fund this repository. We are deeply thankful for the opportunity NAGPRA has presented so that we arc able to maintain our cultural traditions. We also intend to continue to maintain the Testimony of Cecil F. Antone, Lt. Governor Page 3 of 3 relationship and partnership with federal agencies. The Pimas and Maricopas of the Community view NAGPRA and its eventual implementation as an extremely significant step in assisting Indian nations to properly care for their ancestors. This is an important step in assuring cultural stability for generations to come. I thank you for this opportunity to comment on implementation efforts regarding NAGPRA, and I will respond to any questions you may have. |