FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2025 – The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), is excited to announce the recipients of its 2025 Protecting Native Places Grants. This year marks a historic expansion of the program, with the number of recipients and size of the grants significantly increasing.

NATHPO first established this grant program in 2022 because public lands management has traditionally excluded the involvement of Native peoples and recognizing the interconnectedness of efforts to protect Indigenous culture and the natural world. Thanks to partners like The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Wilburforce Foundation, as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), NATHPO has been able to provide direct support to dozens of THPOs in their efforts to protect and manage Tribal cultural places, increase the role of Tribes in management and stewardship of culturally significant areas, and address racist and offensive place names.

In 2025, NATHPO was able to vastly expand the size and scope of the program, thanks to a three-year grant from the Mellon Foundation. The number of THPOs receiving grants increased to 25 this year, and the size of the awards rose from $5,000 to $40,000.

“Tribal Historic Preservation Officers spend their days performing the sacred work of protecting sacred places and cultural resources,” said NATHPO Executive Director Dr. Valerie Grussing. “NATHPO is proud to provide direct support for that work through our Protecting Native Places grants. We are grateful for the support of the Mellon Foundation, without which we could not have expanded the reach and strength of that support, and we look forward to continuing and growing this program in the years to come.”

Protecting Native Places provides grants of $40,000 to NATHPO Member THPOs, issued through an application process managed by NATHPO staff and Board members. Recipients can use the funds to support their work to ensure Tribal cultural resources and places are managed and protected, including the incorporation of traditional knowledge, from upgrading mapping technology and document preservation to building structures and creating opportunities for education on Tribes’ connection to and the importance of preserving ancestral lands.

2025 is the fourth year NATHPO has awarded Protecting Native Places grants to Member THPOs. If you or your organization are interested in supporting this work and helping grow the Protecting Native Places Grant program, please contact Melissa@nathpo.org. The 2025 Protecting Native Places grant recipients include:

Blackfeet Nation

Cahuilla Band of Indians

Catawba Indian Nation

Eastern Shawnee Tribe

Elnu Abenaki Tribe

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Fort Belknap Indian Community

Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Jamul Indian Village of California

Kiowa Tribe

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma

Pit River Tribe

Pueblo de Cochiti

Pueblo de San Ildefonso

Quapaw Nation

Reno-Sparks Indian Colony

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan

Samish Tribe

Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

Stockbridge-Munsee Community

Timbisha Shoshone Tribe

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

White Mountain Apache Tribe

Who we are – NATHPO is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization, founded in 1998, of Tribal preservation leaders protecting culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance. Connections to cultural heritage sustain the health and vitality of Native peoples. We provide guidance to preservation officials, elected representatives, and the public about national historic preservation legislation, policies, and regulations. We promote Tribal sovereignty, develop partnerships, and advocate for Tribes in governmental activities on preservation issues. For more information visit our website at www.nathpo.org.