Native American Studies Commons^™

Letter From John Thomas To John Denver, 1988, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This two-page typed letter from Shawnee representative John Thomas to Mr. Denver (presumably John Denver) was sent circa March 1988. Thomas explains the unprecedented extent of the damage done to Indian graves at Uniontown, Kentucky, and the need for support for the thousands of Native Americans planning to participate in the reburial ceremonies. Thomas also discusses the increased popularity of grave robbing and the need for improved legislation to address the issue.

Letter From Laurie To Congress, Laurie

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Citizens Against Desecration Form Letter, 1988, Dennis Banks, William Thomas, Chico Dulak

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This one-page typed photocopied form letter from Citizens Against Desecration was created in 1988 to inform residents about the desecration of American Indian burial grounds in Union County, Kentucky. The letter provides details about the planned five-day reburial ceremony (the largest ever conducted in North America) including tobacco burning, prayers, songs and fasting. The letter requests financial help to cover food, transportation and lodging costs for those expected to attend.

Emergency Desecration Act Of The General Assembly Of Kentucky, General Assembly

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This three-page typed document, circa 1988, is an Act by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky regarding grave desecration. The Act has four sections; the first section labels the intentional excavation of human remains as a first-degree offense. Section two classifies offenses related to the desecration of venerated objects. Section three classifies the abuse of a corpse as a class D felony. Section four contextualizes the revised penalties and emergency nature of the Act in relation to ongoing grave robberies in Kentucky.

Draft Letter From Dennis Banks And John Thomas To “A Sense Of The Sacred” Project Team, Dennis Banks, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This two-page typed draft letter from Dennis Banks and John Thomas to "A Sense of the Sacred" Project Team was created circa 1988. The letter concerns a documentary project on the Indian grave desecrations in Union County, Kentucky. Banks and Thomas agree to work cooperatively and give priority access to the documentary crew for interviews and other events, but note that some rituals and individuals should not be photographed.

Shawnee Authorization Letter For John And William Thomas, Ron Sparkman

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This typed letter, circa 1988, provides authorization for John and William Thomas to work on behalf of the Shawnee Nation to reinter ancestral remains from disturbed burial grounds near Uniontown, Kentucky. The letter seeks assistance for the Thomases in their tasks and asks to help develop legislation to protect Indian burial sites in the future.

A handwritten note appears at the bottom of the document.

Letter And Fact Sheet From Citizens Against Desecration, Mary H. Clark, Shirley Smith, Bruce Kaufman

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This three-page typed letter from Citizens Against Desecration, circa March 1988, is addressed to supporters and gives facts about the events at Union County, Kentucky, regarding the desecration of American Indian burial sites. The letter provides facts surrounding the incident and notes the need to both educate the public about the issue and change legislation to increase the penalties for those convicted of this crime. It also expresses the need for funding to help cover the cost of expenses related to the reburial efforts.

Form Letter From John Thomas Regarding Desecration Of A Shawnee Burial Site At Uniontown, Kentucky, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This typed letter from John Thomas, circa March 1988, is an appeal for help raising funds to support reburial efforts in Uniontown, Kentucky. Thomas recounts his previous experience helping with reburials and legislative efforts to prevent further grave desecration from happening. John explains that a delegation of Shawnee medicine men and elders needs to be organized for an appropriate re-burial.

Letter From Alisha To Congress, Alisha

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Amanda To Congress, Amanda

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Anissa To Congress, Anissa

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Carrina To Congress, Carrina

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Christopher To Congress, Christopher

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Crystal To Congress, Crystal

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Erin And Stephen To Congress, Erin, Stephen

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from two students to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Margaret To Congress, Margaret

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mary To Congress, Mary

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Michael To Congress, Michael

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mike To Congress, Mike

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Milly To Congress, Milly

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mixi To Congress, Mixi

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Nathen To Congress, Nathen

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Nick To Congress, Nick

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Ryan To Congress, Ryan

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Terri To Congress, Terri

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Torie To Congress, Torie

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Travis To Congress, Travis

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

United Methodist Church Resolution On The Desecration Of Burial Sites, 1988, United Methodist Church General Conference

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This one-page typed document is a draft resolution from the United Methodist Church General Conference, dated 1988. The Conference notes their opposition to the desecration of indigenous graves and urges members and Congressional representatives to pass better legislation to address this problem in the future.

Letter From Citizens For Alternatives To Radioactive Dumping, April 13, 1987, Janet Greenwald

American Indian Movement and Activism

This typed and annotated letter from CARD (Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping), dated April 13, 1987 outlines strategies for stopping a proposed land withdrawal bill that would earmark land in New Mexico to be used as a dumping site for radioactive waste. The letter calls for more active engagement from citizens and urges them to contact representatives to voice concerns. Included are notes by an unknown author as well as contact information for senators and congressional representatives.

Decker Cave Action Plan, March 23, 1987, Walter E. Allen

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This 20-page typed document consists of an action plan sent to District Ranger John Tharp from archeologist Walter E. Allen on March 23, 1987 as well as supplementary materials about Decker Cave. The plan details the history of vandalism and pothunting at the site, including the disturbance of American Indian burials. It also explores the potential for further archeological exploration of the cave in coordination with concerned American Indian groups and provides a plan to deter additional looting of the site. Supplemental materials include a discussion with the University of Missouri Archeological Department, a review of literature, and maps of …