>MEDIA RELEASE
>20th October, 2004
>World Archaeological Congress Supports NAGPRA Amendment
>
>The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) came out today in support of
>Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell's proposal to amend the existing
>Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). WAC
>offered its unreserved support for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's
>amendment to the Act which would recognize as Native American all human
>remains found in the United States that date prior to the documented
>arrival of European explorers. This revision is believed by many
>archaeologists to clarify the original intent of the law as it was passed
>in 1990.
>
>President of WAC, Dr Claire Smith, stated "The respectful treatment of the
>mortal remains of the dead is a fundamental human rights issue. We need to
>recognise and acknowledge the special significance of Indigenous ancestral
>remains to Indigenous peoples. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure
>that human remains are assumed to be Native American if they pre-date the
>documented arrival of European explorers. This change is consistent with
>the spirit of the original NAGPRA legislation and is simple good sense."
>
>  "Claims by some scientists that this amendment has the potential to
> cripple the field of physical anthropology are irresponsible
> scare-mongering," said Dr Smith. "Physical anthropology has been
> successfully done for the past 14 years under NAGPRA and this amendment
> will not change this practice in any way.  It only clarifies the intent
> of the original law and resolves ambiguities that have arisen. The
> amendment does not affect the requirement that Native American claimants
> demonstrate cultural affiliation before being entitled to the return of
> human remains."
>
>Dr Smith said: "This is not a controversial amendment. What really
>concerns me is the reaction to this amendment from some of the scientists
>involved in the Kennewick case.  That kind of hostility to the legitimate
>concerns of Native peoples causes mistrust and is very damaging to our
>discipline. In contrast, international experience shows that research on
>human remains increases when Indigenous peoples and archaeologists work
>together cooperatively. In Australia, for example, there is on-going
>scientific research on human remains from Lake Mungo, some of which have
>been recently re-dated to around 60,000 years."
>
>BACKGROUND   The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) is a
>non-governmental, not-for-profit organization and is the only elected
>international body of practising archaeologists.  WAC promotes interest in
>the past in all countries, to recognise the historical and social role and
>political context of archaeology, and endeavours to make archaeological
>studies relevant to the wider community. WAC acknowledges and recognises
>Indigenous methodologies for interpreting, curating, managing and
>protecting Indigenous cultural heritage.
>
>Claire Smith
>President, World Archaeological Congress
>Department of Anthropology, Columbia University,
>1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027
>Ph: 1 212 854 7465; Fax: 1 212 854 7347
>Email: [log in to unmask]; URL: www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org
>
>
>--
>Claire Smith
>President, World Archaeological Congress
>Department of Archaeology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide,
>SA. 5001.  Australia
>Ph: 61 (0)8 8201 2336
>Fax: 61 (0)8 8201 3845
>
>Till July, 2005
>Department of Anthropology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New
>York, NY 10027
>Room 964, Schermerhorn Extension
>Ph: 1 212 854 7465
>Fax: 212 854 7347
>
><http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Wac mailing list
>[log in to unmask]
>https://listserver.flinders.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/wac