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STOP ACt

On December 21, 2022, the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act became federal law. ​


History

We called on Congress to Support the Safeguarding Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act. On April 22, 2021 we sent a letter in support of the Safeguarding Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act, and urged Congress to not only pass the Act but to consider strengthening the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the protection of Sacred Places.

Read and download our full letter.

On June 21, 2021 the Association sent a second letter in support of the STOP Act, further explaining the Association's support and refuting recent criticisms of the Act.

Read and download our full letter. 

The STOP Act prevents the export of Native cultural heritage to prevent these items from being exported and sold overseas. When our sensitive items cross the borders, we lose our power to return them home. The STOP Act further requires the exporter to prove they have rightful ownership of Native cultural heritage.

Read more about the STOP Act.
Read and download the STOP Act White Page Paper 
​Read and download the STOP Act Executive Summary

​
The only entities that are opposed to the STOP Act are those dealers and dealer associations that ​sell "antiquities" and "artifacts." Read our letter about dealers' efforts to misconstrue the STOP Act's purpose ​and put down the Association and Native leaders who support the STOP Act.
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If you represent a MUSEUM, NATIVE NATION, are a NATIVE ARTIST, ATTORNEY, ACADEMIC, please write your own letter of support by following this guideline.

Updates

  • ​​November 29, 2022: Senate-Passed STOP Act Strengthens Federal Protections For Tribal, Native Hawaiian Cultural Items
  • August 6, 2021: Read "Law safeguarding tribal objects is badly needed", by Brian D. Vallo
  • May 20, 2021: Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Hearing on the STOP Act
  • June 25, 2020: Udall Holds Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing on Water, Infrastructure, Cultural Patrimony Bills

Supporters

All Pueblo Council of Governors     American Anthropological Association     American Cultural Resources Association & AAA Archaeology Division Archaeological Institute of America     Association of American Indian Affairs     Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums
Association of Village Council Presidents     Catawba Indian Nation     Duckwater Shoshone Tribe     Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
Hopi Tribe     Hopland Tribe     Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes     Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium
National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers     National Indian Head Start Directors Association
National Trust for Historic Preservation     Native American Rights Fund     Ohkay Owingeh     Oglala Sioux Tribe
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe     Pueblo of Acoma     Pueblo of Santa Clara     Pueblo of Tesuque     Pueblo of Zuni
Sealaska Heritage     Society for American Archeology     SRI Foundation     Tohono O'odom Nation     United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. 

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Please note our mailing address change:
Association on American Indian Affairs
6030 Daybreak Circle
Suite A150-217
Clarksville, MD 21029

General Information


​The Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)
publicly supported organization.
​We do not take federal grants.

The Association is governed by an all-Native
Board of Directors and leadership team. 

The Association is an accredited charity and meets all 20 standards of the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. 
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The Association has achieved the highest rating - PLATINUM - from GuideStar, now known as Candid​

100 Years of Advocacy


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The Association is celebrating its 100th year of service in Indian Country. We have changed the course of federal Indian law and policy away from termination and genocide towards sovereignty, self-determination and healing. Help us move forward even stronger into our next 100 years!

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