Re: Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition Project
Les Tate (ltate@hiwaay.net)
Thu, 15 Feb 1996 07:22:46 -0600
> Building juvenile basic training camp on Native American
> gravesite.
Don't know if this will work or not, but you might call the state
historical commission and the state environmental protection agency.
This might be designated a state historical site and, perhaps,
warrant a archaeological/environmental impact assessment given the
size of the project. For an archaeological assessment, the bones
could not be disturbed under NAGPRA. Why were the tombstones
removed? This might fall under the state grave protection act, if it
has one. Stage a protest and, if arrested, ask the ACLU for help.
Perform a remembrance ceremony at the site and ask the media (TV,
newspaper, etc) to cover it.Use some old Indian quotes, Chief
Seattle's remarks about the bones and spirits of his ancestors might
be good. Write up something for the local newspaper and give an
interview. For NAGPRA inquiries, call the nearest federal law
enforcement agency and the nearest federal attorney; if they can
help themselves, they should be able to refer you to the proper
people.
To read NAGPRA and some other relevant resources, go to the
following websites. The third listing provides some contacts.
http://hawaii-shopping.com/~sammonet/nagpra1.html
http://www.usd.edu/anth/repat.html
http://www.cast.uark.edu/products/NAGPRA/
http://spirit.lib.uconn.edu/ArchNet/Topical/CRM/USdocs/nagpra14.htm