Tribal Historic Preservation Offices THPO

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Tribal Historic Preservation Offices(THPO)

• Richard M. Begay
• Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO)
• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
• Palm Springs, CA
• TLCEE Tribal Cultural Resource Management
  Community-Based Course
• May 19, 2007

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What is Historic Preservation?

• The preservation and management of cultural
  resources significant to the Tribe
• Archaeological Sites (Village Sites)
• Burials (Burial Grounds, Cemeteries)
• Trails (prehistoric, historic, and in-use)
• Buildings and other Structures
• Resource Gathering Areas (plants, minerals)
• Sacred Places (springs, hills, etc.)

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Why Historic Preservation?

• Protecting cultural sites is a way of respecting
  the past
• Maintains connection to the land
• Binds together the community through a common
  history/ancestry
• Records information about the past for the future
  generations

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Connection to Landscape

• The significance of cultural landscapes is a
  blend of the physical environment with of tribal
  beliefs. The stories that are associated with the
  landscape tell the story of the origins of
  people, where they have lived, their customs, and
  language. Places on the landscape serve as
  reminders of tribal heritage and traditions they
  bring the past to the present

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National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966

• Established a national program to identify,
  evaluate, and encourage the protection of the
  nations significant historic places primarily
  through the Section 106 process
• Federal Agencies must take into account their
  actions on historic properties
• Established the Historic Preservation Fund

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National Historic Preservation ActContinued

• Created State Historic Preservation Officers
  (SHPO) in each state
• SHPO consults with BIA, BLM, USFS, other federal
  agencies to protect sites on all federal lands
  (exception certain tribal lands) and sites on
  other lands that will be affected by a federal
  action

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What is a THPO?

• A special designation by the NPS that enables
  Tribes to take over the responsibilities of the
  State Historic Preservation Office on Indian
  Lands
• Tribes develop their own Historic Preservation
  laws, policies, advisory boards, etc.
• THPOs also receive a small amount of federal
  funding

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Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPO)

• Negotiated between the Tribe and the NPS
• Agreements specify which functions Tribes will
  take over from the SHPO
• On reservation lands only
• Land Status issues
• Must have a land base (reservation)

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THPOs in California

• There are currently 10 THPOs
• Yurok in N. California one of the original THPOs
• Annual Conference will be held in Palm Springs??

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THPO Responsibilities

• Compliance pursuant to Section 106 of the Natl
  Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
• Determinations of Effect
• Consultation with Federal/State/Local Agencies
  (cities, counties, other Tribes)
• Cultural Register-Records Management
• Inventory the Tribes cultural resources
• Surveys, records search, etc.

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Other Federal Laws/Policies

• Bulletin 38
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA)
• Archaeological Resources Protection Act (APRA)
• Antiquities Act
• Native American Graves Protection and
  Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
• Executive Order 13007

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Contact Information

• Richard M. Begay, Tribal Historic Preservation
  Officer
• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
• 650 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
• Palm Springs, CA 92262
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email rbegay_at_aguacaliente.net