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During the National Congress of American Indians' (NCAI) Executive Council Winter Session, President Susan Masten appointed the next Commissioners for NCAI's Repatriation and Burial Sites Protection Commission. The Commission was established, through official resolution in 1996, to conduct investigations, hold hearings, issue reports, advocate appropriate legislation, articulate positions on repatriation and burial sites protection, and represent NCAI in appropriate forums, such as the NAGPRA Review Committee meetings. The NCAI Commission is comprised of nine members from throughout Indian Country, representing regional areas. These areas include: Northeast, Southeast, Great Lakes, Northern Plains, Southern Plains, Great Basin (including California), Northwest, Southwest, and Alaska.

The formation of this national repatriation and burial sites protection coalition has helped tribes, through the sharing of common experiences, to work together on the sometimes difficult and complex issues involved in the NAGPRA process. NAGPRA refers to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the primary federal law which addresses repatriation and burial sites issues. Each Commissioner is appointed by the President of NCAI for a two year term. The first meeting of the new Commission will take place during NCAI's Mid-Year Session, June 25-28, 2000, in Juneau, Alaska.

The new Commissioners are: Northeast: Paulla Dove-Jennings, Narragansett Indian Tribe; Great Lakes: Phil Shopodock, Chairman, Forest County Potawatomi; Southern Plains: Victor Roubidoux, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Northern Plains: John Norder, Spirit Lake Tribe; Southwest: Vernelda Grant, San Carlos Apache Tribe; Great Basin/California: Dale Ann Sherman, Yurok Tribe; and Alaska: N. Jana Harcharek, Northern Slope Borough.

Nominations for the Southeast and Northwest areas have not been received. General criteria for nominees include: proven experience working in the area of repatriation and burial sites protection and a letter of recommendation or support from one or more tribes in a certain region. Please submit your nominations, with resume, to NCAI c/o Brian Stockes via fax at (202) 466-7797 or by mail at: NCAI, 1301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036.

For further information, please contact NCAI, phone: (202) 466-7767.