MEDIA RELEASE
20th October, 2004
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: cs2224@columbia.edu; URL: www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org