What is the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)?

Principles and Purposes of NATHPO

Become a NATHPO Member

President Profile

What is the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)?

Founded in 1998, the Association is a national non-profit membership organization of Tribal government officials who implement federal and tribal preservation laws. NATHPO's overarching purpose is to support the preservation, maintenance and revitalization of the cutlure and traditions of Native peoples of the United States. This is accomplished most importantly through the support of Tribal Historic Preservation Programs as acknowledgded by the National Park Service.

Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) have the responsibilities of State Historic Preservation Officers on tribal lands and advise and work with federal agencies on the management of tribal historic properties. THPOs also preserve and rejuvenate the unique cultural traditions and practices of their tribal communities.

NATHPO activities include monitoring the U.S. Congress, Administration, and state activities on issues that affect all Tribes and monitoring the effectiveness of federally mandated compliance reviews and identification, evaluation, and management of tribal historic properties. Examples of completed and ongoing projects: "Tribal Tourism Toolkit for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and Other Tribal Opportunities (2002)," and "Many Nations Media Project - News from the Lewis & Clark Trail (2002-5)," and "Treaty Research Project for Continental U.S. (2001)." NATHPO also offers training and technical assistance on federal historic preservation laws.

Principles and Purposes of NATHPO (NATHPO is guided by three main principles)

1. Tribal Sovereignty – the inherent right of Indian Nations to self-government
2. Confidentiality – recognition of the need to respect the confidentiality of information regarding Native cultural and ceremonial practices and places of religious or cultural significance.
3. No boundaries – NATHPO recognizes that the cultural and heritage preservation interests of Indian Nations and their peoples often extend far beyond the boundaries of present-day reservations -- often crossing state and national boundaries -- and stands ready to assist in activities relating to transboundary cultural and environmental issues

The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officer's activities include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting the culture and heritage activities of the governments of federally recognized Indian tribes, particularly the activities of the various Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs).

• Providing technical assistance to THPOs and traditional religious and cultural authorities of Tribes.

• Providing technical assistance to tribal governments considering or attempting to develop Tribal Historic Preservation Programs in accordance with section 101(d)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Promoting public interest, as appropriate, in tribal historic preservation and cultural preservation programs.

• Encouraging and assisting in the preservation of historic and cultural properties important to Indian tribes and Native peoples.

• Providing a forum for discussion and dissemination of ideas for more effective cultural heritage preservation programs for Tribal governments.

• Increasing public awareness, including government agencies, of the importance of the physical environment in the role and preservation of Native traditions and culture.

Become a NATHPO Member

Regular Membership is restricted to Tribal Historic Preservation Officers who are officially designated by a federally-recognized Indian tribe or Alaska Native group to direct a program approved by the National Park Service. Annual Dues for Regular Members are tied to the amount of the annual grant from the NPS to the Tribal government to help support its Tribal Historic Preservation Officer functions.

Tribal Associate Membership is open to officials directing tribal preservation programs who are either seeking or who are considering seeking National Park Service approval, as well as officials directing tribal programs dedicated to or actively supporting the purposes of NATHPO. Associate Membership Dues are $250 a year.

Click here for Associate Member Form

For more information contact: D. Bambi Kraus, NATHPO President, Washington, D.C. National Office

• Mailing Address - NATHPO, P.O. Box 19189, Washington, D.C., 20036-9189

• Telephone - 202.628.THPO (202-628-8476)

• Fax - 202.628.2241

• Email - info@nathpo.org

President Profile
Ms. D. Bambi Kraus is the NATHPO president. Since graduating from Stanford University, she has resided in Washington, DC, and has been committed to working with and advocating for Native rights. She has worked as a senior advisor for President Clinton's Initiative on Race, the National Indian Policy Center, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (U.S. Department of Education), and the National Anthropological Archives (Smithsonian Institution). Among other achievements, she completed a children's book in 1998 with and about her mother, Frances Nannauck Kraus. Ms. Kraus is a Tlingit Indian, whose family is from Kake, Alaska.

BACK TO TOP