Burial Site Protection Act veto is dismaying

As stewards of lands sacred to the Stockbridge-munsee Band of Mohican Indians, the Delaware Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Munsee-delaware Nation and the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, we at Historic Huguenot Street were disheartened to read of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s veto of the Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act (“State leaders disregard Native nations’ concerns,” Jan. 20).

In overwhelmingly passing the bill last June, the state Legislature took an important step toward acknowledging and beginning to redress generations of wrongs against contemporary native nations’ ancestors. The governor’s veto only perpetuates the insensitivity to concerns of the first peoples, past and present.

A 10-acre National Historic Landmark District in New Paltz, Historic Huguenot Street has been described as one of the most important Indigenous archaeological sites in the state. Like so many other entities, our coming to terms with our responsibility to right past institutional injustices has evolved over time.

By working closely with Indigenous representatives, Historic Huguenot Street has shown marked progress in three critical areas — committing to undertake only the most essential archaeology, giving voice to Indigenous communities in crafting our interpretation, and prioritizing compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

We know that important work remains, to which we are committed. It is our hope that the state will demonstrate the same level of commitment, with both houses of the Legislature reintroducing and passing the bill, and Hochul embracing it.

Liselle Lafrance Mary Etta Schneider New Paltz Lafrance is president and Schneider is the board chair of Historic Huguenot Street.