First Listening Session on Sacred Sites to be Held Today

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

ALBURQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – To address tribal concerns regarding sacred sites issues, the US Department of the Interior will conduct listening sessions on sacred sites in general, as well as knowledge relating to specific sites on Interior-managed tribal trust and other federal lands. The Department will be better equipped to make decisions that are sensitive to the ceremonial use and physical integrity of sacred sites through the benefit of tribal input and views on such matters.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Obama Administration recognizes that the protection of sacred sites on federal lands is integral to traditional religious practices, tribal identities and emblematic of sovereign tribal nations. These sacred site listening sessions are intended to assist in developing policies that result in effective, comprehensive and long-lasting federal protection of, and tribal access to, the places that are so important to the fabric and culture of tribal nations.

Because many American Indian tribes have belief systems that discourage or even prohibit the disclosure of the location or other information about sacred sites and places, Interior will respect tribal requests that information about such locations be kept confidential and only share this information with appropriate agency personnel.

For all those unable to attend any of these listening sessions, please send your input/suggestions by September 21, via email to consultation@bia.gov or the US Department of the Interior.

Mr. Dion Killsback
Counselor to the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs
1849 C Street, NW
MS 4141-MIB
Washington DC 20240

Should you have additional questions, Mr. Killsback can be reached at 202.208.6939.

WHO:
Tribal Leaders from the Southwest Region and other regions
Dion Killsback, Counselor to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs,
DOI staff

WHAT:
Sacred Site Listening Session
Monday, August 13
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

WHERE:
BIA Southwest Regional Office
Pete V. Domenici Building
1001 Indian School Road
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104

posted August 13, 2012 7:00 am edt