Portland, OR—Governor Tina Kotek announced today that she is reestablishing the Task Force on Oregon Tribal Cultural Items.
The task force was first created in 2017 to obtain information relating to cultural items currently held in storage or on display at Oregon state agencies, state universities, colleges, and public schools. In 2019, Oregon was the first in the nation to report its survey findings of tribal cultural items, but the task force’s work has been paused since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tribes should have access to information about cultural items held in storage or on display at state agencies, state universities, colleges, and public schools,” Governor Kotek said. “It is time to renew this important work and continue to strengthen our essential government-to-government relationships with the nine sovereign tribal nations.”
The task force will consider a process for soliciting information from state public institutions and agencies about items they may have in storage or on display associated with Oregon Tribes. It will also develop next steps for determining the provenance, the appropriate custodian, and the appropriate storage or display of such items.
The task force will submit an annual report to the Governor beginning in 2025.
The Governor’s Tribal Affairs Director, in partnership with the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, will convene the Task Force. The Members of the Task Force will be appointed at a later date, but will include:
• The Governor’s Tribal Affairs Office Director or other designee;
• Any additional member of the Governor’s staff as directed by the Governor;
• A representative of the State Historic Preservation Office, appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department;
• A state agency director, appointed by the Governor;
• A representative of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, as appointed by the Commission;
• A representative from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, as appointed by each Tribe’s respective Tribal Chairs, Councils, or Boards;
• One or more representatives of one or more public universities or colleges, appointed by the Governor;
• One or more representatives of primary or secondary Oregon public schools, appointed by the Governor.
• Additional members, as invited by the Governor.
The reestablished task force has been created through the signing of Executive Order 24-06, which replaces Executive Order 17-12.
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