DOI Working Group and Points of Contact for International Repatriation of Native American Cultural Heritage

Within DOI, the Office of International Affairs (INT) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (AS/IA) coordinate an informal working group to share information, respond to requests for assistance in repatriating items from abroad, and explore how to strengthen federal efforts to support international repatriation. 

Individual contact information is provided below for those who have a question or are seeking assistance on international repatriation. If in doubt about which program to contact, please contact a working group co-chair, or email us at intlrepatriation@ios.doi.gov.

DOI Internal Working Group Members

Co-chairs:

  • Office of International Affairs
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs

Other Members:

  • Office of Native Hawaiian Relations
  • Office of the Solicitor (SOL), Division of Indian Affairs and Division of Parks and Wildlife
  • Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Office of Law Enforcement
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Services
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Trust Services, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources Management, Museum and NAGPRA Program
  • National Park Service (NPS), National NAGPRA Program
  • National Park Service, Tribal Relations and American Cultures Program
  • National Park Service, Division of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Cultural, Paleontological Resources & Tribal Consultation
  • Bureau of Land Management, Office of Law Enforcement
  • Indian Arts and Crafts Board

DOI Key Points of Contact for Inquiries from Tribes or the Public

Office/Program

Role

Contacts

Office of International Affairs
  •  DOI Working Group Co-Chair
  • Point of contact for international repatriation requests from Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities
  • Provides international expertise to help coordinate with foreign governments and the Department of State

David Downes
Chief, Policy Division
(202) 208-3994

 

Brooke Hobbie
Senior Policy Advisor
(202) 208-6316

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
  • DOI Working Group Co-Chair
  •  Point of contact for Tribal requests related to international repatriation

Stephanie Henning      (202) 208-7553

Office of Hawaiian Affairs
  • DOI Working Group Member
  • Point of Contact for requests from Native Hawaiian Community

Kai’ini Kaloi
Director, Office of Hawaiian Relations
(202) 208-7462

National Park Service, National NAGPRA Program
  • DOI Working Group Member
  •  Provides expertise on U.S. repatriation law, experience, and lessons learned
  • Point of Contact for requests from Tribes

Melanie O’Brien
Manager, National NAGPRA Program
(202) 354-2204

 

David Tarler
Training, Compliance, and Regulations Committee Program Officer
(202) 354-2108

National Park Service,

Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science 
  • DOI Working Group Member
  • Provides expertise and guidance on all topics of museum collections management for the National Park Service

Stephanie Stephens
Chief Curator and Museum Management Program Manager  
(202) 354-2102

National Park Service, Division of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services
  • Responsible for enforcement of cultural resource laws in National Parks

Charles Cuvelier
Chief, Division of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services
(202) 513-7084

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement
  • Investigates violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act; has expertise regarding Native American art markets
  • Responsible for enforcing cultural resource protections on FWS-managed land
  • Responsible for enforcing wildlife protection laws, including laws governing trade in endangered species, including animal parts that may be incorporated into cultural items

Ed Grace
(acting) Assistant Director for Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(202) 208-3809

 

 

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services
  • Responsible for enforcement of cultural resource laws on Indian lands

William "Bill" McClure
Special Agent in Charge
BIA, Office of Justice Services
(505) 563-3882

Bureau of Indian Affairs, NAGPRA Program (Office of Trust Services, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources Management)
  • DOI Working Group Member
  • Coordinates NAGPRA matters in the BIA

Annie Pardo
Museum Program Manager, NAGPRA Coordinator
(703) 390 6343

Bureau of Land Management, Office of Law Enforcement
  • Responsible for enforcement of cultural resource laws on BLM public lands

TBD
Office of Law Enforcement
Bureau of Land Management
(202) 912-7588

Bureau of Land Management, Cultural, Paleontological Resources and Tribal Consultation
  • DOI Working Group Member
  • Responsible for cultural resources associated with BLM public lands, including museum collections and NAGPRA repatriation
  • Experience in archaeological site damage assessments, locating collections in museums, and researching Antiquities Act and ARPA permitting activities

TBD
Cultural, Paleontological Resources and Tribal Consultation
Bureau of Land Management,
(202) 912-7242

 

Last Updated March 2021

 

 

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