Dear all,

Below is WAC's testimony to the Hearing before the US Senate Committee on 
Indian Affairs, about proposed changes to NGAPRA.

Cheers,

Claire


The World Archaeological Congress

Hearing Before the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
on
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
9:30 a.m.
Room 485 Russell Senate Building

STATEMENT OF THE WORLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONGRESS

The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) supports the proposed amendment to 
the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) as 
offered in S.536 (Sec. 108), which provides that "Native American" refers 
to a member of a tribe, a people, or a culture that is or was indigenous to 
the United States.  WAC believes that this change is consistent with the 
spirit of the original NAGPRA legislation and that this amendment makes 
good common sense.  For repatriation purposes, this change will only impact 
inadvertent discoveries on lands recognized by the Indian Claims Commission 
as the aboriginal territory of existing tribes.  The majority of 
repatriation cases do not fall under these circumstances.

WAC believes that the respectful treatment of the mortal remains of the 
dead is a fundamental human rights issue.  In addition, we recognize and 
acknowledge the special significance of Indigenous ancestral remains to 
Indigenous peoples.  The proposed amendment is consistent with the spirit 
of compromise that marked the original passage of NAGPRA.  In addition, it 
reflects emerging archaeological practice wherein Indigenous concerns 
regarding cultural heritage are taken into account.

Background: The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) is a non-governmental, 
not-for-profit organization and is the only elected international body of 
practicing archaeologists. WAC promotes interest in the past in all 
countries, to recognize the historical and social role and political 
context of archaeology, and endeavors to make archaeological studies 
relevant to the wider community. WAC acknowledges and recognizes Indigenous 
methodologies for interpreting, curating, managing and protecting 
Indigenous cultural heritage.

Larry J. Zimmerman, Vice President, World Archaeological Congress
Dorothy Lippert, Indigenous Representative to the World Archaeological Congress


-- 

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
<http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org>



Dr Susan Piddock

Research Assistant
Department of Archaeology
Flinders University,
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide, 5001
South Australia

Email alternative: [log in to unmask]
Fax:            +61 8 82013845

Vice President - Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology

Visit the Department of Archaeology website at:
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology

ASHA
http://www.asha.org.au/

See the Hills Face Zone Cultural Heritage Project website:
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/hfzchp/index.html