Introduction
The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA), established in 1998, oversees the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s (ACHP’s) Native American initiatives. ONAA staff also works closely with the ACHP’s tribal/Native Hawaiian member to address critical issues brought to the ACHP by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs), and intertribal organizations.
The program's primary responsibilities are:
- Advise the ACHP Chairman, members, executive director, and staff on policy matters and historic preservation issues affecting Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHO's)
- ONAA is responsible for ensuring that the ACHP meets its government-to-government and trust obligations to Indian tribes
- Provide technical assistance and outreach regarding tribal and NHO consultation in the Section 106 process
- Participate in inter-agency initiatives focused on Native American issues
Native American Heritage Month
"November is Native American Heritage Month. Join with the ACHP in celebrating the history of Native Americans through their vitality, strength, endurance, and their commitments to the Nation. The ACHP fully supports the participation of Indian tribes in the national historic preservation program and acknowledges their significant contributions to our understanding and protection of our nation’s heritage resources." Leonard Forsman, ACHP Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Suquamish Indian Tribe
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Authorities
National Historic Preservation Act
The National Historic Preservation Act (“Act”) became law on October 15, 1966, Public Law 89-665, and was codified in title 16 of the United States Code. Various amendments followed through the years. On December 19, 2014, Public Law 13-287 moved the Act’s provisions from title 16 of the United States Code to title 54, with minimal and non-substantive changes to the text of the Act and a re-ordering of some of its provisions.
36 CFR PART 800 -- Protection of Historic Properties
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Council a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings.
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Newly Updated Online Tool Assists with Involving Indian Tribes Early in Section 106 Historic Preservation Process
A new source of information to aid in the process is the Tribal Directory Assistance Tool (TDAT), developed and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Environment and Energy (HUD). This web-based tribal contact database contains information about the geographic areas of current and ancestral interest to federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: Federal agencies should not rely solely on TDAT to identify Indian tribes that should be invited to consult in the Section 106 process and also should consider other sources of information regarding areas of tribal interest.
HUD’S Tribal Directory Assistance Tool (TDAT) Information Paper: Effective Section 106 consultation with Indian tribes starts with sound research into which Indian tribes have an interest in the project area.
HUD's Newly Updated Online Tool (TDAT) Article: A new source of information to aid in the process is the Tribal Directory Assistance Tool (TDAT), developed and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Environment and Energy (HUD).
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Training and Guidance
In order to facilitate consultation with Indian tribes and NHOs, ONAA staff regularly develops guidance materials to assist Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, federal agencies and other Section 106 participants. Follow the link Training and Guidance for ACHP's training and guidance for Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and federal agencies.
ACHP Native American Policies
In 1992 the National Historic Preservation Act was amended to include and clarify the roles and responsibilities of Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Responding to the NHPA amendments, the ACHP began a six-year process of revising its regulations and adopted policy statements regarding Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Follow the link ACHP Native American Policies to see or download the Native American policies.
Government-to-Government
The ACHP, as a Federal agency, recognizes the government-to-government relationship between the United States and federally recognized Indian tribes and acknowledges Indian tribes as sovereign nations with inherent powers of self-governance. Follow the link Government-to-Government Consultation with Indian Tribes to see the ACHP's documents on the Government-to-Government relationship.
Native Hawaiian Working Group
Improving consultations on unique issues involving Native Hawaiian organizations is the purpose of the interagency working group established by the Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Follow the link for for information on the Native Hawaiian Working Group.
Native American Information Papers
The ACHP’s Office of Native American Affairs staff supports the ACHP in a number of ways, from policy development and project review, training and education, and guidance development to providing information papers about various topics concerning Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. Information papers are different than guidance documents and discuss issues that may inform participants in the Section 106 process.
Other Native American Resources
Follow Other Native American Resources for links to inter-tribal organizations and other federal agency American Indian or Native Hawaiian programs.
