Since our founding, NATHPO has worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Tribes, their THPOs, and the communities they serve by promoting Tribal sovereignty and helping Tribes protect their sacred places and preserve their cultural resources. The necessity of our mission and work has only increased since we opened our doors in 1998. To that end, NATHPO will continue our work on behalf of the THPO community. We will build on the successes we’ve experienced, continue to communicate with you about our work and advocacy, and highlight when there is a need or opportunity for you to lend your voice to those efforts.
Please continue to elevate places where NATHPO’s voice may be useful or necessary, and let us know if there are ways in which we can support and advocate on behalf of you as THPOs in the days, months, and years ahead. This is YOUR organization, and our commitment to honor and protect ancestors, people, descendants, land, and water is unwavering.
UPCOMING COMMENT DEADLINES
STOP Act Rulemaking, Tribal & NHO Consultations: The Department of the Interior (DOI) is proposing new regulations under section 10 of the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act (STOP Act) of 2021. DOI held virtual consultation sessions for Tribal Nations on November 18, 2024, and November 19, 2024, and is holding them for Native Hawaiian Organizations on November 25, 2024, and November 26, 2024. You can find information on the proposed regulations, as well as the consultation sessions, HERE. DOI is accepting comments until December 24. NATHPO will be submitting its own comment, a copy of which is attached to this email, and will be posted on our website HERE when finalized.
NATHPO regularly submits comment letters to federal agencies advocating on behalf of Tribal communities and their THPOs. You can find several of our most recent letters HERE, and if you know of an upcoming deadline and want NATHPO to consider submitting comment, please contact Melissa Madrigal at melissa@nathpo.org.
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND THANKSGIVING
Every month is Native American Heritage Month here at NATHPO, where our mission is to support the Tribal Historic Preservation Officers who work every day to protect the sacred places and preserve the cultural resources so vital to perpetuating their people’s heritage.
We've spent this month continuing to lift up the THPOs and others in Indigenous communities around the country engaged in this work, and we encourage all of you to help us. If you have an example of someone working to preserve Indigenous heritage and culture, tag us in the post or send the information and/or a link to Media@Nathpo.org. We’ll try to highlight as many as we can.
To learn more about NATHPO and THPOs, check out our website, and if you don't already, please give us a follow on Facebook and Twitter!
NEW NAGPRA REPORT RELEASED
On September 23, 2024, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee approved its annual report to Congress for fiscal year 2024. A copy of that report is attached to this email.
WHAT NATHPO'S BEEN DOING
NATHPO has been active throughout November. here are just some examples
Protecting Native Places Grants -Applications closed for our 2024 Protecting Native Places Grants on November 8. We will be announcing the grantees in December. NATHPO Members THPOs can use these grants to support their work protecting sacred places and preserving cultural resources, and we're proud to continue providing these in partnership with the Wilburforce Foundation, The Wilderness Society and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
New Staff Members - Effective November 1, Indigenization Director Stacy Laravie (Ponca) and Finance Director Amy Garcia have joined our team as full-time staff members.
NM Archaeological Council meeting - THPOs At Work: NATHPO Repatriation Advisor Dr. Timothy McKeown attended the recent New Mexico Archaeological Council annual meeting, which included a panel featuring THPOs from the region.
ACHP Business Meeting - Last week, THPO for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians and NATHPO Board Chair Lakota Hobia (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) participated in her first ACHP business meeting. In advance of the meeting, NATHPO Executive Director Dr. Valerie Grussing and Lakota met with lawmakers and attended a reception in the Capitol.
Religious Freedom Panel - Last week, Valerie participated in the American Indian Religious Freedom Summit on Capitol Hill, organized by the Native American Church. In the panel “Realizing the Promise of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act,” Valerie spoke about her own ancestors’ role in seeking religious freedom with the colonization of our country, and how this basic human right should apply to everyone. She also addressed the lack of protections in the current legal framework, for places and practices important to Tribes, a critical failing since indigenous identity and “religion” are literally grounded in the land. It is incumbent upon us all to work together for lasting transformational change, equity, and healing.
World Heritage USA 2024 Symposium - Last week, Valerie also attended the World Heritage USA 2024 Symposium and Conference, participating in a panel called, “Assuring that Indigenous Knowledge Fits into the United Nations’ Strategic Development Goals.”
NATHPO Community Calendar & Job Board & Grant Opportunities
Stay current on important happenings using our new Calendar of Events, and post your own to share! And let us know if you have a job posting you would like to share and we'll post it on our Community Job Board. AND don't forget to browse our listing of relevant Grant Opportunities.
Thank you for all you do to protect culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance, and to empower Tribal preservation leaders.
THPOs: this is your organization! Your participation and support through membership and dues make our work possible. JOIN OR RENEW TODAY! Founded in 1998, the Association is a national non-profit membership organization of Tribal government officials who implement federal and Tribal preservation laws.
