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John Andrews, President
Phil Payment, Jr., Vice President
Cherie Tocco, Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Yarnell, Chairman
Dianne Yarnell, Secretary
Mary Jo Payment, Treasurer
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About N.A.S.H.P., Inc. In August of 1998, the
Native American Society for Historical Preservation, Inc. (N.A.S.H.P.)
was granted non-profit status by the State of Michigan. The
specific goals of N.A.S.H.P. are the preservation and maintenance of
Native American burial sites, Native American artifacts, and
Native American objects of cultural patrimony.
As the first step in achieving these goals, N.A.S.H.P.
acquired the deed for Old Mission Indian Cemetery located in
Hessel, Michigan, and the deed to Indian Town Cemetery located
in Bay De Noc Township,
Rapid River, Michigan. N.A.S.H.P. continues
to maintain and regulate these Historic cemeteries. N.A.S.H.P. has
also been successful in bringing to a halt, the archaeological
digging at the old Huron Village located in St. Ignace,
Michigan. Joint efforts were made between N.A.S.H.P. and the
Sault
Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, to stop the desecration of
this known historic site.
N.A.S.H.P.has orchestrated the re-burial of
known Native American remains on numerous occasions. Space for
these repatriations is available in the Hessel Old Mission
Indian cemetery as well as the Wayqueoc (Baraga) cemetery.
Native American remains are unique due to the fact that Natives had
no "cemeteries" per se. Instead, their deceased
were buried along many rivers,
lakes, trails, etc. Therefore, accidental exposure of these
remains is ongoing.
Another goal of N.A.S.H.P. is to assure these
Native American remains are repatriated to Native American
cemeteries to rest with their ancestors, and to assure they do
not make their way to a museum or university to be studied and
placed in a box on a shelf.
N.A.S.H.P. has grown in membership and the
organization is continuing to solicit new members. Members are
not required to be of Native American decent. However, knowledge
of the goals and purpose of the organization are paramount.
Loyalty and dedication to these goals is also required of new
members. Dues for membership are minimal. Funding is obtained by
donations from the public, various organizations, and special
events scheduled by N.A.S.H.P..
N.A.S.H.P.has very ambitious goals for the
future. These goals include, but are not limited to, the
continuation of our annual events; the purchase of a small
parcel of land to house a genealogical research center, a
museum, living village, language classes, classrooms, office
space, and pow wow grounds.
The principle necessity for N.A.S.H.P.at the
current time has become office space. As membership increases, work
on specific projects grows, and records and equipment increase,
there is a growing need for a central office space to
consolidate the acquired assets of N.A.S.H.P..
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