ANNEX 8.1
WAC'S FIRST CODE OF ETHICS
PRINCIPLES TO
ABIDE BY
Members agree that they have obligations to
indigenous peoples and that they shall abide by the following
principles:
1. To acknowledge the importance of indigenous
cultural heritage, including sites, places, objects, artefacts,
human remains, to the survival of indigenous cultures.
2. To acknowledge the importance of protecting
indigenous cultural heritage to the well-being of indigenous peoples.
3. To acknowledge the special importance
of indigenous ancestral human remains, and sites containing and/or
associated with such remains, to indigenous peoples.
4. To acknowledge that the important relationship
between indigenous peoples and their cultural heritage exists
irrespective of legal ownership.
5. To acknowledge that the indigenous cultural
heritage rightfully belongs to the indigenous descendants of that
heritage.
6. To acknowledge and recognise indigenous
methodologies for interpreting, curating, managing and protecting
indigenous cultural heritage.
7. To establish equitable partnerships and
relationships between Members and indigenous peoples whose cultural
heritage is being investigated.
8. To seek, whenever possible, representation
of indigenous peoples in agencies funding or authorising research
to be certain their view is considered as critically important
in setting research standards, questions, priorities and goals.
RULES TO
ADHERE TO
Members agree that they will adhere to the following
rules prior to, during and after their investigations:
1. Prior to conducting any investigation
and/or examination, Members shall with rigorous endeavour seek
to define the indigenous peoples whose cultural heritage is the
subject of investigation.
2. Members shall negotiate with and obtain
the informed consent of representatives authorised by the indigenous
peoples whose cultural heritage is the subject of investigation.
3. Members shall ensure that the authorised
representatives of the indigenous peoples whose culture is being
investigated are kept informed during all stages of the investigation.
4. Members shall ensure that the results
of their work are presented with deference and respect to the
identified indigenous peoples.
5. Members shall not interfere with and/or
remove human remains of indigenous peoples without the express
consent of those concerned.
6. Members shall not interfere with and/or
remove artefacts or objects of special cultural signifcance, as
defined by associated indigenous peoples, without their express
consent.
7. Members shall recognise their obligation
to employ and/or train indigenous peoples in proper techniques
as part of their projects, and utilise indigenous peoples to monitor
the projects.
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