Tougher proposals for protecting tribal items face criticism

Source: Associated Press

Tougher proposals for protecting tribal items face criticism

Mary Hudetz, Associated Press
Updated 6:27 pm, Friday, August 12, 2016

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Legislation that would prohibit Native American items protected by U.S. laws from being exported to international markets has come under criticism from dealers and collectors as tribal leaders defend the proposals.

At a news conference in Santa Fe on Friday, Gov. Kurt Riley of Acoma Pueblo said misconceptions about the proposals in Congress have led to fears that dealers who collect and sell tribal antiquities will have to relinquish their entire inventories. There are also misconceptions that the proposals will prohibit the export of all U.S. tribal art and antiques, and embolden tribes to randomly suggest items are sacred in order to take them out of the hands of dealers, he said.

"Let me be clear. This is absolutely not true," Riley said. "Instead, the STOP Act and other legislation only strengthen existing federal statutes."

The STOP Act, introduced by U.S Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, seeks stiffer penalties for stealing and exporting items considered sacred by Native Americans and already protected by U.S. laws. It also would set an amnesty period for people to voluntarily return cultural items collected in violation of existing laws.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Tougher-tribal-antiquities-legislation-comes-9139713.php