Spring 2024
WHEREAS, Tribes in California have a long and complicated history fighting for the repatriation of their ancestors and cultural items from institutions, more specifically colleges, universities, and Anthropology departments; however, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was enacted in 1990, and CalNAGPRA was enacted in 2001 to legally mandate the repatriation of funerary and human remains and items of cultural patrimony from museums;
WHEREAS, NAGPRA broadly defines museums as federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding, which includes museums, state and local governments, and colleges and orders them to return Native American cultural items to their respective peoples and California community colleges received 18% federal and 33% state funding;
WHEREAS, Funerary remains and items of cultural patrimony may be inadvertently discovered during construction, and failure to issue appropriate notices of inadvertent discoveries to local federally recognized tribes results in civil penalties and NAGPRA regulations encourage comprehensive agreements to be established between Native tribes and federally-funded agencies to address land management activities that could result in the intentional excavation or inadvertent discovery of NAGPRA items; and WHEREAS, The Department of the Interior investigates civil penalty allegations and assesses fines on museums that fail to comply with NAGPRA provisions and the National Parks Service offers federally and state-funded institutions two grants for consultation, documentation, and repatriation via application; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Board of Governors to advocate for a state-wide mandate for each California community college district to establish a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Committee over the next five years;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage all California community college districts to hire a tribal/community liaison position on the district Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Committee; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for all California community college districts to contract a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Specialist.
WHEREAS, NAGPRA broadly defines museums as federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding, which includes museums, state and local governments, and colleges and orders them to return Native American cultural items to their respective peoples and California community colleges received 18% federal and 33% state funding;
WHEREAS, Funerary remains and items of cultural patrimony may be inadvertently discovered during construction, and failure to issue appropriate notices of inadvertent discoveries to local federally recognized tribes results in civil penalties and NAGPRA regulations encourage comprehensive agreements to be established between Native tribes and federally-funded agencies to address land management activities that could result in the intentional excavation or inadvertent discovery of NAGPRA items; and WHEREAS, The Department of the Interior investigates civil penalty allegations and assesses fines on museums that fail to comply with NAGPRA provisions and the National Parks Service offers federally and state-funded institutions two grants for consultation, documentation, and repatriation via application; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Board of Governors to advocate for a state-wide mandate for each California community college district to establish a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Committee over the next five years;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage all California community college districts to hire a tribal/community liaison position on the district Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Committee; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for all California community college districts to contract a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Specialist.