Preservation Mission Statement
The primary goal of the Spokane Tribe of Indian’s Preservation Program (STIPP) is to maintain, preserve, and protect our cultural heritage including: archaeological sites, traditional cultural properties, cultural materials, historic records, and intellectual property. This work is done in accordance with state and federal leading professional standards and requirements while also recognizing and adhering to the cultural beliefs of our Spokane tribal ancestors. This Program serves to preserve the Tribe’s cultural heritage by: providing cultural resource consulting services to federal, public, and private sectors within the Spokane Indians ancestral territory; acting as a repository for the Tribe’s cultural collections; and supporting activities that provide education for tribal and non-tribal members to ensure the perpetuation of Spokane Indian life ways for all future generations.
STIPP Services: cultural resource management, public outreach, and archival and collections management to the Columbia Plateau Region.
Contact Details
Phone: 509-258-4060
Fax: 509-258-9844
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 100 Wellpinit, Washington 99040
Physical Address: 6187 Agency Loop Rd. Wellpinit, Washington 99040
THE LAWS THAT PRESERVE OUR PAST
One of the functions of the STIPP is to provide protection against theft and damage of cultural resources in the Lake Roosevelt area. Archaeological/cultural resources (artifacts, sites, historic buildings, burials) are legally protected by the Federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and Washington state revised code RCW 27.53.060. ARPA protects against illicit damage, and theft of cultural materials from public and tribal lands; RCW 27.53.060 extends this protection to private lands in Washington State. ARPA covers trafficking (buying and selling) of cultural materials from archaeological and historic sites as well. Only qualified professionals with the proper permits are allowed to affect the context of archaeological/cultural resources.
Fines and punishment are determined by the infraction class, which can range from a misdemeanor to a Class A, B, or C felony. The maximum penalty for a first -time individual felony offender under ARPA is $20,000 and up to one year in prison. Second-time felony offenders can be fined up to $100,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. Tools and vehicles used in the commission of the crime may also be seized.
STIPP and National Park Service archaeologists performing an ARPA damage assessment.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
DO:
- Enjoy cultural heritage by looking, not touching
- Pack out your trash after enjoying nature
- Call your local historic preservation office if you find something you think should be recorded
DON’T:
- Collect arrowheads or other artifacts
- Purchase “Indian” artifacts at trade shows or online
- Enter or dig in unauthorized areas
- Deface/move/paint/alter anything you think may be archaeological or historic in nature
The Spokane Tribe of Indians vision is to achieve true sovereignty by attaining self-sufficiency. We will preserve and enhance our traditional values by living and teaching the inherent principles of respect, honor and integrity as embodied in our language and life-ways. We will develop strong leadership through education, accountability, experience and positive reinforcement.