How has CITRC acquired
NPS grant funds?
National Park Service Grant FY 1998
The Committee decided that grants funds were necessary to fund the activities of repatriation for the participating tribes. A few of the tribes did have budgets for some work, but most did not have any resources available. The services of a professional grant writer were available through one tribe and this was very valuable.
The first step in the grant application project was to determine
the scope of the project. It was decided to target a number of
museums in closest proximity to Cahuilla territory for two reasons.
First, it was felt that this would make a first project easier
to deal with. Second, the inventories indicated that the greatest
quantity of objects that might meet NAGPRA criteria were located
in this area. We identified twelve museums and institutions in
the Southern California area to visit.
Other major components of the grant project include preparation
of a document defining the criteria for identifying Cahuilla
objects that meet NAGPRA definitions for repatriation, establishment
of a database for recording information gathered, preparation
of a document outlining policies for sharing and storing materials
repatriated to the tribes, design and implementation of a Web
site with information about the Committee and its experiences.
As National Park Service grants must be applied for by a tribal
organization we secured the cooperation of the Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians as the grant applicant. The tribe agreed
to provide the grant accounting administration services as "in
kind" financial contribution to the project.
Next, the research work for the grant was divided among participants
including the grant writer. Most of the grant work was done in
committee meetings that were held frequently, in fact, weekly
for the last couple of months before the grant application deadline.
Participation of tribal representatives was excellent. The grant
writer researched the costs for purchase of all equipment and
supplies to be included in the grant and did the actual writing
of the application.
Our grant application was successful and we were notified in
June 1998 of the grant award. One committee member, the representative
for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (the grant applicant)
was designated as the grant project coordinator. Her duties include
scheduling of visits, chairing committee meetings, coordinating
fiscal responsibilities with the tribal grant accounting office,
purchase of supplies and equipment, and organization of the Repatriation
Office. Another committee member works with her on scheduling
of museum visits, report writing, and other project preparation.
A part-time employee provides data entry services.
