NIC President addresses artifact looting

Reports from over the weekend of digging and hunting for artifacts around campus property buzzed through today’s board of trustees meeting.

President Joe Dunlap suggested that the college work with the city, the Coeur d’Alene tribe and the State Historical Office to put together a symposium for the community due to the strong level of public interest in looking for those artifacts.

Joe Dunlap said the symposium would be intended to teach students and community members about the laws regarding artifacts and the legal methods for searching and documenting them.

“We can go on and provide that education service to the community,” Dunlap said.

NIC Vice President for Community Relations and Marketing, Mark Browning will be in charge of coordinating the effort and will notify the public of its progress.

According to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, searching for artifacts on campus, or on any public or Indian land, are breaking state law. Violators are subject to tribal or federal laws that protect historical and cultural artifacts.