Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 6, 1 June 2013 — Historic preservation agency supports UN indigenous riglits declaration [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Historic preservation agency supports UN indigenous riglits declaration

Members of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) formally endorsed a plan to support the United

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at its winter business meeting on March 1, 2013. The ACHP believes this is an opportunity to promote better stewardship and pro-

tection of historic properties and sacred sites that have special significance to the original inhabitants of the areas now included in the United States of Ameriea. When these places are protected, it increases the chances for the survival of indigenous cultures. The declaration also reinforces the ACHP's policies and goals, including the Policy Statement on the ACHP's Interaction with Native Hawaiian Organizations. When the U.N. General Assembly adopted the declaration in 2007, the United States was one of four countries that opposed it. However, on April 20, 20 10, at the United Nation's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Ambassador Susan Rice announced that the U.S. would undertake a formal review of its position, in consultation with others. On Dec. 16, 2010, at the second White House Tribal Nations Conference, President Obama announced the United States' support for the declaration. The declaration is not legally binding but is an inspirational international instrument that includes a broad range of provisions regarding the relationship among nations, organizations and indigenous peoples and individuals. It is an important instrument, in part, because of the breadth of its provisions on issues of eoneem to indigenous peoples. The administration, however, does not see support for the declaration as an end in itself. In President Obama's words, "What matters far more than words - what matters far more than any resolution or declaration - are actions to match those words." Accordingly, the ACHP is

looking to the principles embodied in the declaration to meaningfully address the historic preservation challenges that Native Hawaiian organizations and Indian tribes face.

The ACHP's declaration plan calls for the ACHP to raise awareness about the declaration within the historic preservation community; post information " about the declaration on its website, develop guidance

on the intersection of the declaration with the Section 106 process, reach out to the archaeological community about the declaration and the conduct of archaeology in the United States, and generally integrate the declaration into its initiatives. The ACHP has already posted information about the declaration on its website. For a copy of the U.N. Declaration, the ACHP's Declaration Plan and other information, go to www.aehp. gov/UN declaration .html . The ACHP oversees the Section 106 review process, whieh requires federal agencies to take into account the impacts of their actions on historic properties. In carrying out the Section 106 process, federal agencies are required to consult with Native Hawaiian organizations when historic properties of religious and cultural significance may be affected. The ACHP has an Office of Native American Affairs that provides assistance to federal agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations and others. The ACHP, among many other efforts, has also published extensive guidance regarding federal agency consultation with Native Hawaiian organizations. For general information about the ACHP and the Section 106 process, go to www. achp.gov. If you have questions about the role of Native Hawaiian organizations in the Section 106 process, please contact me via e-mail at vhauser@achp.gov. ■

Valerie Hauser is Director ofthe Offce ofNative Amenean Affairsfor the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

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By Valerie Flauser