( 1) Native Indian burial grounds and historic graves are
acknowledged to be a finite, irreplaceable, and non-
renewable cultural resource, and are an intrinsic part
of the cultural heritage of the people of Washington.
The legislature recognizes the value and importance
of respecting all graves, and the spiritual significance
of such sites to the people of this state;
( 2) There have been reports and incidents of deliberate
interference with native Indian and historic graves for
profit-making motives;
( 3) There has been careless indifference in cases of
accidental disturbance of sites, graves, and burial
grounds;
( 4) Indian burial sites, cairns, glyptic markings, and historic graves located on public and private land are to
be protected and it is therefore the legislature's intent
to encourage voluntary reporting and respectful handling in cases of accidental disturbance and provide
enhanced penalties for deliberate desecration.
RCW 27. 44.030.
It was within this cultural context that the Washington legislature adopted the Indian Graves and Record Act, Ch. 27. 44 RCW, et seq., in 1989. The legislative intent was expressed as follows:
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