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NATHPO
comments to the FCC proposed Nationalwide Programmatic Agreement
for Certain Undertakings
Natural
Resources Conservation Service Historic Preservation Program
Section 106 Notes
Programmatic Agreement Among the United States Department of
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference
of State Historic Preservation Officers Relative to: Conservation
Assistance
This nationwide agreement, which was executed May 31, 2002,
allows NCRS State offices, federally recognized Indian tribes,
and State Historic Preservation Officers to streamline review
of individual resource conservation activities.
Because many resource conservation needs are unique to a particular
State or region, the agreement establishes broad standards and
procedures that enable parties to tailor their own agreements
to local resource conservation needs. This flexibility allows
parties to focus on NRCS activities that have the greatest potential
to affect historic properties. Activities that have the least
potential to affect historic properties will no longer be subject
to the formal Federal historic preservation review process.
NRCS and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation
Officers (NCSHPO) also signed the agreement, which was developed
by ACHP, NRCS, and a committee of State Historic Preservation
Officers representing NCSHPO. NRCS also solicited comments from
the 572 federally recognized Indian tribes through direct nation-to-nation
communication and through NRCS’ State and Regional Tribal
Liaisons, American Indian and Native Alaskan Employees Association,
and American Indian Program Manager. Also consulted were the
Inter-Tribal Agriculture Council and the Southwest Indian Agricultural
Association.
NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle, NE
Washington, DC 20002-8002
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2002 Contact: Michael Courlander
Public Affairs Officer
(202) 502-4597
SENTENCING COMMISSION INCREASES PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST
CULTURAL HERITAGE
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 25) – At its March 20, 2002, public
meeting, the United States Sentencing Commission unanimously voted
to amend the federal sentencing guidelines to provide increased
punishment for crimes against the nation’s cultural heritage
(e.g., vandalizing the Vietnam Memorial, stealing a Native American
ceremonial mask, destroying the Liberty Bell). For the past two
years, the Commission had been considering guideline changes that
would provide (1) greater guidance to judges in evaluating the
harm caused by cultural heritage resource crimes and (2) increased
punishment for these offenses. Said Commission Chair, Judge Diana
E. Murphy, “The events of September 11th have underscored
the importance of the symbols of our nation’s heritage and
culture. The promulgation of a separate guideline for cultural
heritage resource crimes is the Commission’s way of increasing
this awareness and helping to preserve these treasures.”
The Sentencing Commission undertook consideration of this matter
in response to concerns that the current guidelines inadequately
address the unique harms caused by cultural heritage resource
crimes. These concerns had been expressed by many Native American
tribes and communities, the Departments of Justice and Interior,
the Society of American Archaeology, and the American Association
of Museums, among others. Cultural heritage resource crimes are
fundamentally different from general property crimes, in which
the primary harm typically is pecuniary in nature. While cultural
heritage crimes often involve pecuniary harms, they also involve
great non-pecuniary, intangible harms. Consequently, the Commission
determined that punishment of these crimes should take into account
the transcendent and irreplaceable value of cultural heritage
resources.
The new guideline passed by the Commission also provides for increased
punishment when the crime involves (1) places that are dedicated
to the preservation of cultural heritage resources and the education
of the public or (2) historic and cultural resources specifically
protected by federal law. The use of destructive devices or weapons
and motives for commercial gain are additional factors that will
increase the punishment under the new guideline. The Commission
will submit this proposed guideline to Congress on May 1, 2002,
together with other guidelines adopted during the current amendment
cycle. The amendments will take effect November 1, 2002, unless
Congress passes legislation disapproving them.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency in the judicial
branch of federal government, was organized in 1985 to develop
a national sentencing policy for the federal courts. The resulting
sentencing guidelines structure the courts’ sentencing discretion
to ensure that similar offenders who commit similar offenses receive
similar sentences. Since nationwide implementation in January
1989, federal judges have sentenced approximately 600,000 defendants
under the guidelines.
American
Indian Museums Program
Code
Talk is a federal inter-agency Native American website
designed specifically to deliver electronic information from
government agencies and other organizations to Native American
communities. Code Talk is hosted by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, Office of Native American Programs.
The site contains links to key topics of interest such as
the environment, health, and housing. It also provides links
to resources such as maps, training centers, and libraries.
A calender of events is also provided.
Department
of Health and Human Services
This is the United States government's principal agency for
protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential
human services.
- Administration
for Native Americans
Part of the Administration
For Children and Families, ANA promotes the goal of social
and economic self-sufficiency of American Indians, Alaska
Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American Pacific
Islanders, including Native Samoans. The web site provides
information about programs, reports, application kits, and
links to related sites.
- Indian
Health Service
The Indian Health Services, an agency within the U.S. Dept.
of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health
care provider and health advocate for Indian people. Its goal
is to assure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal
and public health services are available and accessible to
American Indian and Alaska Native people. The site includes
links to area offices, medical programs, and information technology
resources.
- Division
of Tribal Services
Part of the Office of Community Services, the Division of
Tribal Services is responsible for two programs: Tribal Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Native Employment
Works Program (NEW). The web site includes information concerning
these two programs as well as links to related sites. It also
assists in issues relating to the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193
(the Act) and related legislation.
- Administration
on Aging Programs and Resources for Native American Elders
This website contains links to information on issues of concern
to older Native Americans.
Department
of Labor
The Department of Labor is charged with preparing the American
workforce for new and better jobs, and ensuring the adequacy
of America's workplaces. The web site contains media releases,
statutes, regulations, and information about job openings and
activities of the Department of Labor.
Department
of Housing and Urban Development
HUD’s mission is to work toward a decent, safe, and sanitary
home and suitable living environment for every American.
- Native
Americans
Includes links for basic homebuyers, fair housing, and housing
counseling, as well as links to other Native American federal
programs and non-profit sites.
- NAHASDA
- Indian Housing Plan Homepage
This is the Office of Native American Program's official site
for Indian Housing Plan Submissions and Status Tracking. It
contains the text of the Native American Housing Assistance
and Self-Determination Act of 1996 and related regulations,
as well as, access to all publically available compliant plans.
Part of this site is restricted to recipients.
- Northwest
Office of Native American Programs (NWONAP)
This site includes a staff directory and links to Northwest
Tribes and Housing Authorities.
- Southern
Plains Office of Native American Programs (SPONAP)
This site includes a staff directory and links to Southern
Plains Tribes and Housing Authorities.
IMLS
Five State American Indian Tribal Libraries, Archives and
Museums Project
The National Anthropological
Archives collects and preserves historical and contemporary
anthropological materials that document the world's cultures
and the history of the discipline. Its collections represent
the four fields of anthropology – ethnology, linguistics,
archaeology, and physical anthropology – and include
manuscripts, fieldnotes, correspondence, photographs, maps,
sound recordings, film and video created by Smithsonian anthropologists
and other preeminent scholars.
Bureau
of Indian Affairs
BIA, an agency of the Department
of the Interior, is responsible for program administration
for federally recognized Indian tribes, and for promoting
Indian self-determination. BIA also has a trust responsibility
emanating from treaties and other agreements with Native groups.
Their WWW site includes a map
of judically established Indian land areas and a tribal
leaders list, as well as links to other American Indian
web sites. Please note: "Access to the DOI website has been
restricted in compliance with a court order. Select DOI webpages
will be made available to the public through a private internet
service provider."
- Office
of Indian Education Programs
OIEP provides quality education opportunities from early
childhood throughout life in accordance with the Tribe's
needs for cultural and economic well-being in keeping with
the wide diversity of Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages
as distinct cultural and governmental entities.
National
Park Service
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural
and cultural resources and values of the national park system
for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and
future generations. ParkNet, the NPS website, provides information
about the history, culture and natural resources of the various
national parks.
- Triabal
Preservation Program
The Tribal Preservation Program assists Indian tribes in preserving
their historic properties and cultural traditions. The site
includes information about grants, funding, training programs,
and offers links to tribal websites.
- National
Archeological Database
The Center For Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) hosts
the NADB Online System under a cooperative agreement with
the National Park Service. Accessible are inventories of over
120,000 archeological investigations and maps displaying archaeological
and environmental data at the state/country level. Documents
related to guidance and compliance with the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act are included.
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency safeguards the natural environment
- air, water, and land. Sites of interest to Native Americans
include:
- Municipal
Solid Waste Management in Indian Country
Information about the Municipal Solid Waste Program for Indian
Country including financing, regulations, guidance, tribal
programs, and links to other resources.
- American
Indian Environment Office
The American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) coordinates
and oversees the development and implementation of environmental
protection policies and programs in Indian Country. Information
about programs, policies, laws, regulations, publications,
tribal contacts and grants can be found at this web site.
Bureau
of the Census
This searchable database includes the latest Census statistics
on Native Americans, Aleuts and Eskimos. Census also maintains
a number of data
tables on American Indians.
Edward
S. Curtis's The North American Indian
Edward S. Curtis's The North American Indian is "one
of the most significant and controversial representations of
traditional American Indian culture ever produced." The twenty
volume set, covering eighty tribes, was issued from 1907-1930.
The set is part of the Library
of Congress American Memory Historical Collections for the National
Digital Library. The volumes are organized by tribes and
culture areas encompassing the Great Plains, Great Basin, Plateau
Region, Southwest, California, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.
The collection contains over 2000 illustrations and can be searched
by keyword or browsed by subject, Native American tribe, geographic
location, or volume.
National
Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian, established by Congress
in 1989, is dedicated to the preservation, exhibition and study
of the life and culture of Native Americans. It is one of the
museums of the Smithsonian Institution,
an independent trust of the United States. The website offers
information about exhibits, events, educational programs, and
has extensive links to other resources related to Native Americans.
Office
of Native American Liaison
The Office of Native American Liason, part of the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service, serves as a point-of-contact
for tribal conservation issues and develops guidance materials.
The website can be searched by keyword.
Laws and legislation on
Native American affairs
Department
of Justice
The mission of the Department of Justice is "to enforce the
law and defend the interests of the United States according
to the law."
- Office
of Tribal Justice
The Office of Tribal Justice serves as a coordination center
for all Department of Justice activities relating to Native
Americans. The web site contains information about the Office
of Tribal Justice and links to other Native American Resources.
- American
Indian & Alaska Native Affairs
The American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Desk has been
established to provide access to information regarding funding
opportunities, training and technical assistance, and other
information relevant to American Indian and Alaska Native
tribes.
Internal
Revenue Service
Indian Tribal Governments, an office of the Internal
Revenue Service, was established to assist Indian tribes
with federal tax matters. The website contains information regarding
current issues affecting tribal governments, links to forms
and publications frequently requested by tribal governments,
links to regulations and rulings published by the IRS as they
relate to tribal governments and links to other resources.
Government
Printing Office
GPO ACCESS provides online database access to
the U.S.Code, Code of Federal Regulations, and
Federal Register.
- The U.S.
Code contains the codified general and permanent laws
of the United States in effect as of January 16, 1996. Title
25 is the primary volume pertaining to Indians.
- The Federal
Register is the official daily publication for Rules,
Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations,
as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.
Vol. 59-63 (1994-1998) are available online.
- The Code of Federal Regulations
Title 25,
Indians is a codification of the general and permanent
rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive
departments and agencies of the Federal Government about
Native Americans and Native American affairs.
THOMAS:
Legislative Information on the Internet
THOMAS, launched by the Library of Congress in 1995, offers
information about House and Senate bills, votes, and committees.
It includes the Congressional Record and historical documents
from 1774-1798.
Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs
The purpose of The United States Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs is to study the unique problems of Native American,
Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan people and to propose legislation
to alleviate these difficulties.
Small
Business Administration
The office of Native American Affairs, an office of the Small
Business Adminstration, provides information for business
development and administers the Tribal Business Information
Centers project. The Tribal
Business Information Centers provide "culturally-tailored" business development assistance to current and prospective small
business owners.
National
Archives and Records Administration
NARA is an independent federal agency that preserves the nation's
history by overseeing the management of all federal records.
Search the NARA
Archival Information Locator (NAIL) to locate and retrieve
digital copies of selected textual documents, photographs, maps,
and sound recordings relating to Native Americans.
- The
Genealogy Page: American Indians
This select catalog lists the records published on microfilm
by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
that relate directly to American Indians, to the formation
of federal Indian policy, and to the personnel who created
or enforced that policy.
- Guide
to the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
This is a guide to the National Archives federal records of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1793 to1989.
General Accounting
Office
Search GAO's databases to find reports evaluating government
programs and activities for Native American housing, job training,
and health care.
Also, check out the list
of government information products on Minorities
available from the U.S. G.P.O.
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