A US senator who helped halt the auction of a ceremonial shield from a Native American tribe in New Mexico is now attempting to crack down on the theft and sale of sacred Native American artifacts in international markets.
Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico introduced a bill to the Senate that would prohibit the export of Native American items that are of cultural and historic significance. It would also increase the penalties from a maximum of five years to a maximum of 10 years for individuals who steal and illegally traffic these items.
Native American artifacts have been appearing at international auction houses over the last few years.
In May, bidding for a shield used in religious ceremonies at Acoma Pueblo was scheduled to begin at the Eve auction house in Paris. But the bidding was canceled after tribal leaders claimed the shield was stolen from an elder’s home during a break-in decades ago.
The Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act would also establish a two-year amnesty period during which people who have illegally possessed significant Native American items could return them without fear of prosecution.
In addition, it calls on government agencies to conduct an investigation to better understand the scope of the theft and illegal sale of tribal artifacts, and to work with tribal leaders to address the issue.
Navajo Nation council speaker LoRenzo Bates said the bill would not only benefits indigenous people now, but also “preserves our cultural wisdom and items to be utilized for generations to come”.
“The Navajo Nation has consistently sought to repatriate sacred objects, as well as protect our sacred sites, land, culture, language, and way of life,” Bates said in a statement. “This legislation strengthens that position and allows tribes the confidence that their traditions and way of life are surely protected.”
