The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a field hearing on the theft and sale of tribal property at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 18, 2016. Photo by Tara Gatewood
A Senate Committee on Indian Affairs field hearing took a bizarre turn on Tuesday with the presentation of allegedly "sacred" items to three tribes. Leaders of Acoma Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo and the Navajo Nation were clearly disturbed by the presentation. They were worried about the origin of the items, whether the items actually belonged to their people and whether they were truly sacred or cultural patrimony. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is now investigating the matter, the Associated Press reports. An agent collected the three cardboard boxes -- one bore the packaging of a shoe company -- as possible "evidence," the AP said. The presentation came during a field hearing on the theft and sale of tribal property. A non-Indian witness brought out the boxes and at one point held one above his head as tribal leaders sat next to him in shock.
Indianz.Com on YouTube: Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) discuss legislative efforts to protect tribal cultural patrimony (Video by Tara Gatewood)
The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, Damon Martinez, was among those who witnessed the presentation. His office has secured a federal warrant to seek the return of a sacred shield stolen from Acoma Pueblo, an issue that was discussed during the hearing. The hearing took place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in downtown Albuquerque. The facility is Indian Country -- it's part of a collection of properties held in trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. The BIA leases a portion of the property for its Southwest Regional Office. Read More on the Story:
Officials: Loopholes allow for trafficking of Native American items to foreign markets (AP 10/19)
Tribal leaders speak for bill protecting artifacts (The Albuquerque Journal 10/18)
Senator: Loopholes allow for trafficking of tribal items (KOB 10/18) Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice:
Oversight FIELD Hearing on "The Theft, Illegal Possession, Sale, Transfer and Export of Tribal Cultural Items" (October 18, 2016)
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