The Association on American Indian Affairs will host its 10th Annual Repatriation Conference next month, focusing on new federal regulations and featuring training on cultural heritage protection.
The conference, titled “Igniting Change,” will take place February 25-27, 2025, at the Paragon Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe will host the gathering, which includes workshops on the new Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) regulations that took effect in January 2024.
“As we prepare to host the 10th Annual Repatriation Conference, we are honored to welcome Native Nation leaders, cultural practitioners, and advocates from across the country,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “This milestone gathering underscores the vital work of reclaiming and protecting our Ancestors, sacred items, and cultural heritage.”
The conference will provide hands-on training sessions led by NAGPRA experts, covering new requirements such as strict timelines, deference to Native Traditional Knowledge, and enhanced consultation protocols requiring consent. Additional sessions will address international repatriation, illicit trafficking, hazardous treatments, and media relations.
Keynote speakers include Abigail Echo-Hawk, Executive Vice President at the Seattle Indian Health Board, and Chip Colwell, former Senior Curator of Anthropology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The event includes a screening of “The Great Salish Heist,” which follows traditional archaeologist Steve Joe’s efforts to reclaim stolen ceremonial items. Attendees will also participate in a cultural dinner and can visit the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural & Educational Resource Center, which houses the “Tunica Treasure,” a repatriated collection of trade and funerary items.
Native Nation officials and representatives can attend free of charge. Regular registration remains open until February 19, 2025. The conference will provide breakfast and lunch daily, with dinner included during the cultural event. Limited vendor and exhibitor spaces are available.