When the treaties were forced upon the indigenous peoples of the southeast there was no 'grandfather' clause to provide protection of their burial sites. Cultural developement, grave digging, artifact trafficking, and any other form of grave robbery is rampant and a moral travesty. It is far past time for the wholesale looting of native burials to stop, albeit for cultural developement or outright ghoulish robbery.Stand in unity and fight against grave desecration by: Educating the masses about this terrible practice. Lobbying for new stronger, practical state and federal legislation Conducting legal civil disobedience when necessary. Patroling and protecting our burial sites. Taking the necessary steps to stop the trafficking in native American artifacts and human remains.
"Whole Indian Nations have melted away like snowballs in the sun before the white man's advance. They leave scarcely a name of our people except those wrongly recorded by their destroyers. Where are the Delewares? They have been reduced to a mere shadow of their former greatness. We had hoped that the white men would not be willing to travel beyond the mountains. Now that hope is gone. They have passed the mountains, and have settled upon Tsalagi (Cherokee) land. They wish to have that usurpation sanctioned by treaty. When that is gained, the same encroaching spirit will lead them upon other land of the Tsalagi(Cherokees). New cessions will be asked. Finally the whole country, which the Tsalagi (Cherokees) and their fathers have so long occupied, will be demanded, and the remnant of the Ani Yvwiya, The Real People, once so great and formidable, will be compelled to seek refuge in some distant wilderness. There they will be permitted to stay only a short while, until they again behold the advancing banners of the same greedy host. Not being able to point out any further retreat for the miserable Tsalagi (Cherokees), the extinction of the whole race will be proclaimed. Should we not therefore run all risks, and incur all consequences, rather than to submit to further loss of our country? Such treaties may be alright for men who are too old to hunt or fight. As for me, I have my young warriors about me. We will hold our land."
Chief Dragging Canoe, Chickamaugan
Atttakullakulla, The Little Carpenter
"Where are your women?" His question when addressing the first white treaty council.
Among his delegation were women who were as famous in war as powerful in Council. Their
presence had ceremonial significance. It showed honor to the white delegation. To the
white delegation, which was composed of males only, the absence of their women was
irrelevant, a
trivial consideration.
Statement of Michael Sims:
Whereas, Grave Desecration is one of the most serious issues facing Indian people in this day in age; and Whereas, Grave Desecration in the forms of archaeological digs, construction, and the search for burial items goes unchecked throughout America; and Whereas, S.E.A.L., South Eastern Anti-desecration League, has begun a strict and stringent policy of Zero Tolerance for grave robbers and desecrators; Therefore, the Tennessee Arm of S.E.A.L hereby declares WAR against anyone who disturbs the graves of our ancestors. It is incomprehensible to us that if someone is digging in their yard or field and comes across the grave of an American soldier...say from the Civil War...that the remains are transported and buried with honors in a veterans cemetery; yet if they uncover the remains of an Indian person...the remains wind up on museum shelves and the funerary objects and artifacts many times find themselves being auctioned off to the highest bidder...there to sit as conversation pieces on the coffee tables of affluent non- Indian people. A serious disparity of justice exists in Tennessee. The desecration of a native grave is a class A misdemeanor while desecration of the burial of any other race is a class E felony. Stand with us and demand an end to this discriminatory practice. Lest we not forget, the buying, selling and trading of artifacts in Tennessee is a very lucrative business, some say nets between 50-200 million dollars annually in Tennessee alone, practiced by people of all walks of life. This includes many prominent political persons who, along with many Tennesseans view this practice as their God given right. We with Tennessee S.E.A.L. group stand with Indigenous Peoples, and all people, who wish to stop this horrendous practice. We strongly urge all peoples concerned with this issue to take such a stance against Grave Desecration in your respective areas. Stand for the protection of the last resting place of our grandparents. Stand for the return of sacred items to the Nations to which they belong. Stand against the sale of our ancient treasures. Stand for equal justice under the law. Most people would never expecte the graves of their relatives to ever be desecrated, let alone become a business venture. Yet this is happening to the burials of the Original Inhabitants all over Turtle Island.
Questions regarding NAGPRA and Grave Desecration can be addressed to:
Page Me By ICQ
NAGPRA Policy Statement of the Intertribal Council of The Five Civilized Tribes
OF THE CHICKAMAUGANS
OF SOUTHEASTERN MOUNDS AND BURIALS
Tennessee NAGPRA Inventory
