SCIENTISTS SUPPORT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS TO CULTURAL HERITAGE

claire.smith@flinders.edu.au and DorothyTLippert@qmail.com

The World Archaeological Congress notes its strong support for the
rights of Indigenous peoples with regard to Indigenous cultural
heritage. In accordance with its Code of Ethics, the Vermillion Accord,
and the Tamaki-Makau-rau Accord, WAC actively supports Indigenous
communities in their efforts to make and negotiate repatriation claims.

The World Archaeological Congress affirms the important role that
repatriation plays for Indigenous communities in carrying out their
cultural responsibilities.

Dorothy Lippert, the Indigenous representative on the WAC Executive,
notes "The World Archaeological Congress was founded on the idea that
good archaeology involves social justice and that repatriation is one
way in which this concept is put into action."

In support of the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous communities,
WAC calls for a global moratorium on the testing and sampling of
contested human remains that were obtained without consent of the
community.

If permission has previously been given for testing, WAC calls for the
results of testing to be shared with the Indigenous source communities.
"WAC is simply noting the importance of working with Indigenous
communities when studying human remains," said Dorothy Lippert,
"Research produced with the permission and cooperation of communities is
significantly richer and more interesting."

The World Archaeological Congress urges institutions and governments to
engage openly and honestly in repatriation negotiations with Indigenous
communities and notes the need for these institutions and governments to
take financial responsibility for reburial costs to communities.
Institutions must prioritise contested human remains when compiling
inventories.

The World Archaeological Congress calls on all holding institutions to
ensure that information about their collection is readily available and
that access to archives for further research is readily available on
request. The World Archaeological Congress supports and endorses the use
of oral traditions (as intangible cultural heritage) as a viable tool
for providing a primary context for repatriation.

The World Archaeological Congress will operationalize these concepts by
holding an Inter-Congress on repatriation to be organized by Indigenous
peoples.

Presentations and publications at World Archaeological Congress meetings
will be aligned with the WAC Code of Ethics, the Vermillion Accord and
the Tamaki-Makau-rau Accord to ensure that Indigenous communities have
given consent for the presentation of the information involved.

Professor Claire Smith, President of the World Archaeological Congress,
notes "These measures will ensure that information provided under the
aegis of the World Archaeological Congress will be respectful and
collaborative in nature and will not harm the cultural heritage of
Indigenous people."