NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION HISTORY
In 1976, the California State Government passed AB 4239, establishing the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) as the primary government agency responsible for identifying and cataloging Native American cultural resources. Up until this point, there had been little government participation in the protection of California’s cultural resources. As such, one of the NAHC’s primary duties, as stated in AB 4239, was to prevent irreparable damage to designated sacred sites, as well as to prevent interference with the expression of Native American religion in California. Furthermore, the bill authorized the Commission to act in order to prevent damage to and insure Native American access to sacred sites. Moreover, the Commission could request that the court issue an injunction for the site, unless it found evidence that public interest and necessity required otherwise. In addition, the bill authorized the commission to prepare an inventory of Native American sacred sites located on public lands and required the commission to review current administrative and statutory protections accorded to such sites. In 1982, legislation was passed authorizing the Commission to identify a Most Likely Descendant (MLD) when Native American human remains were discovered any place other than a dedicated cemetery. MLDs were granted the legal authority to make recommendations regarding the treatment and disposition of the discovered remains. These recommendations, although they cannot halt work on the project site, give MLDs a means by which to ensure that the Native American human remains are treated in the appropriate manner. Today, the NAHC provides
protection to Native American human burials and skeletal remains
from vandalism and inadvertent destruction. It also provides a legal
means by which Native American descendents can make known their
concerns regarding the need for sensitive treatment and disposition
of Native American burials, skeletal remains, and items associated
with Native American burials.
The following is a list of the present, original and former Executive Secretary’s and Commissioners for the NAHC:
Current Executive SecretaryLarry Myers
Current Members of the CommissionWilliam Mungary, Chairperson Clifford Trafzer, Vice Chairperson Leslie Lohse Marshal McKay Laura Miranda James Ramos Katherine Saubel Jill Sherman Julie Tumamait-Stenslie
Original Executive SecretarySteve Rios
Original Members of the CommissionJay Johnson, Chairperson Nadine Naylor William Franklin Ed Castillo Patricia Duro Milton Marks Mabel Mckay Jane Penn Talbert Wilson
Former Executive SecretariesWilliam J. Pink Loretta Allen Gary Beck
Former Members of the CommissionTalbert Wilson Richard Milanovich Grant Smith Joseph H. Stauss Walt Lara Wanda Lee Graves Carol Bowen Abby Abinanti Blanche Shippentower Dorothy Joseph Vince Ibenez William Callaway John Sespe George Brown Anthony Risling Doreen Bellas Priscilla Hunter Edward Albert Jr. Fawn Morris |