Artifacts amnesty offered

Native American artifacts scavenged from the Four Corners region may make interesting display pieces for the fireplace mantle — but possessing them is illegal and robs tribes of their cultural heritage.

Owning the pieces would normally bring federal prosecution and stiff penalties, but prosecutors on Thursday announced an amnesty program designed to return the items to their rightful owners.

"I would plead with the public during this time period of amnesty to have the people come forward and bring what we call our property, sacred property," said Patty Timbimboo-Madsen of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Indians.

The Utah U.S. Attorney's Office is joining forces with federal prosecutors in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico for the 90-day program in which people can return the sacred items without the fear of prosecution.

The program began Thursday and will run through Aug. 18. After that time, U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner promised his office will "vigorously identify and apprehend those who may be harboring these items."

Under federal law, penalties for trafficking Native American remains and cultural items range from one to five years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.

Of particular interest in Utah is the return of Native American remains, the looting of which is a continuing and widespread problem, said Forrest Cuch, executive director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs.

People who come across remains, often while searching for other Native American artifacts, rarely report the findings, Cuch said.

While it is unclear exactly how many sets of remains are owned illegally, there is no question that those accounted for do not match the number of Native Americans who inhabited Utah lands.

"If there were 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,000 (Native American) people who lived in this area, where are all those remains?" Timbimboo-Madsen asked.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Dance, who specializes in prosecuting cases under the Archeological Resource Protection Act, said the problem is largely due to traffickers who trade the items on the black market.

The looting of Native American remains and items for commercial and recreational purposes is not a new phenomenon, he said.

"It's a very sad chapter in our national history," Dance said. "It has been a long generational problem that we are attempting to overcome."