Rep. Kevin Mullin Introduces Bill to Prevent National Archives Closures Amidst Tribal Consultation Concerns
Representative Kevin Mullin, D-California, introduced the National Archives Protection Act on August 20, aiming to prohibit the closure of National Archives locations. This legislative action comes as three National Archives facilities in Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco are slated for closure, with the Chicago site expected to close by the end of September. These closures have sparked significant concern, particularly among tribal nations and historians, due to a reported lack of tribal consultation and transparency from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Hundreds of thousands of Bureau of Indian Affairs records, some spanning nearly two centuries, are housed in these facilities. Tribal leaders and preservation officers, such as Michael LaRonge of the Sokagaon Band of Chippewa Indians, have stated they were not consulted, which they view as a violation of the nation-to-nation relationship between the federal government and tribes. The reasons for the closures remain unclear, thoug...