Resolution No.______

Whereas, the _______ Tribal Council is the governing body of the_______ Tribe; and

Whereas, federal agencies, museums and universities all across the country have in their possession the human remains and burial property of thousands of our Native ancestors; and

Whereas, the Native American Graves Protection 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; and

Whereas, the Great Basin Tribes have always acknowledged our shared group relationship and common ancestry, and since the beginning     of time have shared our aboriginal homelands; and

Whereas, the Great Basin Inter-Tribal NAGPRA Coalition (GBITNC) has been established as a unified body that acknowledges that all Great Basin Tribes are related and provides assistance to Great Basin Tribes to secure the repatriation of cultural items (human remains, funerary and sacred objects) of our people by uniting our Tribes to speak with one voice in order to prevent competing claims; and

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, 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; and

Whereas, 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 which include items found in the Great Basin labeled affiliated, unaffiliated and unidentifiable; and

Whereas, the __________ Tribe desires to assist Great Basin Tribes in the repatriation of our Great Basin ancestors, burial items and sacred objects and will adhere to the procedures and protocols as established and approved by the GBITNC Tribes; and

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the _________ Tribe hereby approves the participation in the Great Basin Inter-Tribal NAGPRA Coalition ("GBITNC") and will support to the best of its ability and for the express purpose of jointly claiming and reburying all Native human remains, burial property, and other items taken from our collective aboriginal homelands and which are currently housed in federal agencies and other institutions all over the country and the world; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the _________ Tribe designates _________ as a representative(s) with authority to represent the _________ Tribe in GBITNC issues.  The GBITNC will be notified of the _______ Tribe's selection and if this designation changes the _______ Tribe will immediately inform the GBITNC.

CERTIFICATION