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Dr. Ken Lucero, a field representative for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Office, speaks to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos about Heinrich’s Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony 2017 during the club’s meeting Tuesday at the Los Alamos Golf Course Clubhouse. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
In 1970s, a shield deeply sacred to the Acoma Pueblo was stolen. That shield recently re-appeared in a French auction house. This is one of many incidents of cultural and sacred Native American objects coming up for sale on online and overseas auction houses. It was also a catalyst for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich to introduce the Safeground Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2017.
Dr. Ken Lucero, a field representative for Heinrich, discussed the act with members of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos during thier regular meeting Tuesday at the Los Alamos Golf Course Clubhouse.
He explained Native American tribes have had objects of great signficance and importance looted and stolen. “These pieces are of great importance,” Lucero said. While there were several laws to prevent these thefts, such as the 1990 Native American Graces Protect Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), concerns remained. In fact, Lucero said there was a recent large seizure of fake Native American art in the Phillipines that had a declared value of $11 million. “This is significant impact on the market in Santa Fe,” Lucero said.
Heinrich’s act strides to acheive several things including: increase penalities for NAGPRA criminal violations to match the National Property Act and similiar statues; explicity prohibit the export of items obtained in violation of NAGPRA and similar statues; establish a policy for the U.S. of encouraging the voluntary return of cultural heritage items to tribal ccommunites; and establish a tribal working group to develop recommendations on the return of sacred and culturally important items, the elimination of illegal commerce and repatriation of cultural heritage items that has been illegally trafficked.
Lucero said the act has received strong support. “We already had a great bipartisan support of the act,” he said. The bill was introduced to Congress on June 21.
