Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 9, 1 September 1987 — OHA Gets National Memberships [ARTICLE]

OHA Gets National Memberships

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, through its Cu!ture Division headed by Maleolm Naea Chun, is now a member of two national organizations — the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). NARF is an instrumental legal organization whieh has advocated and defended native American rights for many years. It has made several visits to Hawaii to hold workshops and conferences. NARF has also been very

visible in Alaska where it has helped to defend native self-government, land and subsistence hunting and fishing rights. The organization has taken a strong stance and leadership role in protecting tribal sovereignty and water rights in the United States. OHA's membership will mean a continued sharing of information, support and understanding of issues between native Americans. This is especially important as Hawaiians assert their presence in federal legislation and programs whieh are created for the benefit of all native Americans.

Membership in NTHP will enable OHA to receive information concerning preservation on a national level. It will also provide the agency with the opportunity to advocate for the preservation of native American sites on a national level. Many of the properties under the National Trust are "historical" sites such as the lllinois home and studio of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Woodlawn Plantation on the Mount Vernon estate of George Washington. There is a need to inform and make aware such national organizations as NTHP because of the importance for the preservation of native American sites such as heiau, fishing villages and burials.