Does SAA stand behind NAGPRA?
SAA was the leading scientific organization in the drafting of NAGPRA. It stands behind NAGPRA as written and urges that its members always work towards the effective and timely implementation of the Act. SAA believes that archaeological research, including the study of human remains, is essential to understanding the ancient history of the Americas. But SAA also believes that it is appropriate for Native Americans to have an important voice in and power over their history and the physical traces of that history. SAA takes this stance not only because of its scientific benefits, but also as moral imperative.
