Protection of the Right of Tribes to Stop the Export of Cultural and Traditional Patrimony Resolution

Floor Speech

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Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 122, the Protection of the Right of Tribes to stop the Export of Cultural and Traditional (PROTECT) Patrimony Resolution. I joined as an original cosponsor of the Resolution, which was introduced by Congressman Pearce, and I am pleased that it has gathered broad bipartisan support. This resolution is an important first step in resolving an issue for all of Indian Country: protecting Native American cultural objects from removal and trafficking and ensuring their repatriation back to their tribal owners.

There are many tribes located within my district. They, like other tribes around the country, strive to protect their cultural heritage and traditional ways of life. Possession and protection of their cultural objects, including their sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony, is imperative for tribes' cultural practices and their ability to pass those practices down to future generations. These items or objects are distinct from the many wonderful works of tribal arts and crafts that tribes proudly share with the world. Objects of cultural patrimony have such ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance to a tribe that they are considered communally owned and protected as such.

Unfortunately, many seek tribes' cultural objects for their artistic value, not understanding that to tribes they mean so much more. These cultural objects end up being taken from tribes and trafficked domestically and abroad. Once abroad, tribes are forced to fight often- losing battles to regain possession of them.

We as an American people have our own cultural objects deemed so necessary to our identity that they are owned by the people jointly, such as the United States Constitution or the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. If these objects were displayed as art in a private home or sold overseas, we would stand together to call for their return.

Laws like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act exist to protect Native American cultural objects. However, through practice it has become clear that they are not sufficient to address the tribal loss of objects of cultural patrimony. As such, the PROTECT Patrimony resolution is a step in the right direction.

The PROTECT Patrimony resolution aims to raise awareness of the importance of Native American cultural objects, as well as the proliferation of the removal and trafficking of these objects. It supports Congressional development of explicit restrictions on exportation, and it calls on federal agencies to consult with tribes to address the issue. Further still, this resolution calls on local stakeholders to cooperate with tribes and condemn illegal activity.

The PROTECT Patrimony resolution is just the first step to a more comprehensive solution to protect Native American cultural objects from removal and trafficking and to facilitate their repatriation. I urge all my colleagues to stand in strong support of this resolution.

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