Great Basin Inter-Tribal N.A.G.P.R.A. Coalition

Education Services / Cultural Resources / N.A.G.P.R.A.

Mission Statement

The Great Basin Inter-Tribal NAGPRA Coalition (GBITNC) is a culturally based organization established to protect Great Basin burials as well as strive for the return of our ancestors that were disrespectfully removed from their eternal resting place and are currently held in federal, state, private and international collections throughout the nation and world.

Purpose

The GBITNC recognizes that the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was enacted to remedy a long history of horrific treatment of Native American human remains and cultural items, which unfortunately continues to this day. The GBITNC has been established as a unified body that acknowledges all Great Basin Tribes are related and provides assistance to Great Basin Tribes to secure repatriation of cultural items of our people by uniting Tribes on repatriation issues to prevent competing claims.

Great Basin Tribes have always acknowledged our shared groups relationship and common ancestry, and since the beginning of time have shared our aboriginal territory. The GBITNC claims a shared group identity and recognizes that Tribes are the sole and final authority to identify and determine the disposition of any and all human remains, items of cultural patrimony, and sacred objects. Understand that it is our inherent cultural responsibility to defend the sacred burial sites of our ancestors and relatives. The GBITNC is guided by the traditions and customs of our people and we rely on the guidance and teachings of our Tribal Elders and Spiritual Leaders on the appropriate manner to handle all cultural issues. During cases of inadvertent discovery, the GBITNC will strive to keep the remains in the same place but may have to move them to a more secure location in order to better protect the ancestor.

The GBITNC is dedicated to joint deliberation and tribal consensus and shall address mutual concerns relevant to the execution of repatriation issues involving common boundaries, joint use areas, and common lines of descent for determining cultural affiliation. It is assumed by Great Basin peoples that all human remains are Native American until proven otherwise. The GBITNC recognizes that each and every Great Basin burial must be returned immediately to our people regardless of their age or location. We are opposed to all scientific study and testing on all human remains and/or cultural items and we request every appropriate agency enter into necessary agreements with Great Basin Tribes concerning the implementation and completion of NAGPRA issues. Each agency must recognize that all material and information concerning ancestral human remains, cultural material, and sacred sites remain confidential at all times.

Finally, the GBITNC will serve as a clearinghouse for all Great Basin Tribes promoting the understanding of the NAGPRA law and Tribal rights, promote Tribal advocacy for Great Basin issues, protect current burials and implement public education regarding spiritual beliefs of the indigenous Great Basin People to maintain cultural traditions and customs.

GBITNC Approval: February 6, 2004.