Cladoosby Hopes to Initiate Repatriation Discussion with France

Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby introduces President Obama as the "first American Indian president" of the U.S., at the 2012 White House Tribal Nations Conference. Cladoosby and his wife will be the Obamas' guests at the White House State Dinner for French President Francois Hollande, February 11, 2014.
Image Courtesy of Brian Cladoosby.

February, 7, 2014.

Richard Walker, of Indian Country Today, has written a hopeful article about the visit between National Congress of American Indians President Brian Cladoosby, President Obama, and French President Francois Hollande on February 11th and potential agreements for repatriation of Native American artifacts in French museums.

"Marinello said there are no international agreements specifically addressing Native American artifacts, and said “it is something that the Americans should be convening and discussing because the laws in the USA protecting those Native artifacts have no weight overseas.”

That’s what Cladoosby hopes to initiate, noting, “We want to ensure our most sacred items are treated the same way” as those covered by other repatriation conventions."

-Richard Walker, Indian Country Today

For the full article, click here.

For more information about the importance of repatriation for Native American artifacts, visit National NAGPRA's website or Youtube channel. The Newark Earthworks Center's Blog created a post about this topic 2/12/2014.

For more information about the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, click here.

To view the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, click here.