Why should a collecting institution accord a special status to Native American collections or treat Native American communities differently?
A. Native American communities are sovereign governments. These governments maintain their own territories, their own laws, and their own legal restrictions surrounding cultural issues. Most Native American communities have Federal recognition, while others hold state recognition. In Canada, many Native American communities have a similar status through Federal treaties or provincial acknowledgement. A number of Federal laws in the United States specifically address both cultural and human rights of Native Americans and their communities. These statuses and associated rights form the basis of the principles behind the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials.
