Office of Native American Affairs

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.

Subjects of ONAA's current focus are:

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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 the 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 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.

 

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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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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Authorities

National Historic Preservation Act

36 CFR PART 800 -- Protection of Historic Properties 
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The ACHP works to foster relationships with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations.

Major Initiatives

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.

Indigenous Knowledge

Site Review Imperial Valley Solar Project
The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) is focusing on indigenous knowledge in the Section 106 process to help practitioners more fully understand what it is and how it is used in the process. Through this initiative, ONAA is also promoting respect for indigenous knowledge and highlighting the cultural significance of indigenous knowledge to historic properties.
Read more about Indigenous Knowledge

Tribal Coordination and Consultation For Infrastructure Projects

Image of backhoe and men installing metal culverts
The ACHP understands that applicant-driven projects create challenges for federal agencies and Indian tribes in Section 106 consultation because extensive planning typically occurs prior to the submission of an application and the initiation of the review process.
Read more about Tribal Coordination and Consultation For Infrastructure Projects

Partnership With Salish Kootenai College

Group photo SKC signing ceremony
On September 23, 2019, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) entered into an agreement with Salish Kootenai College (SKC), and the ACHP Foundation to provide educational, personal development, and professional growth opportunities to students in the Tribal Historic Preservation and Tribal Governance and Administration degree programs.
Read more about Partnership With Salish Kootenai College

Traditional Cultural Landscapes

Silver King Canyon
In recognition that large scale historic properties of significance to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations (NHOs) across the United States are increasingly threatened by development, the ACHP launched a Native American traditional cultural landscapes initiative and adopted an action plan in November 2011.
Read more about Traditional Cultural Landscapes

The Protection of Indian Sacred Sites

Indian medicine wheel
In the Section 106 context, the term “sacred sites” is sometimes used as shorthand for historic properties of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. As with other kinds of properties, sacred sites must be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in order to be considered in the Section 106 process.
Read more about The Protection of Indian Sacred Sites

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The ACHP encourages federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Officers, the historic preservation community, and the general public to become familiar with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is important because it expresses both the aspirations of indigenous peoples around the world and those of States in seeking to improve their relations with indigenous peoples.
Read more about United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Interested in ACHP's Native Youth program?

Learn more about preservation as a potential career choice and making your voice heard in protecting your heritage.

Need Section 106 Consultation Assistance?

The Office of Native American Affairs has staff assigned to help Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations with various federal agencies.

Indian Tribes & Native Hawaiian Preservation Success Stories

The completed Cathlapotle Plankhouse

Cathlapotle

Ridgefield, Washington

The Columbia River Village of Cathlapotle teaches the present about the past.

READ MORE

Indian Tribe & Native Hawaiian Digital Library

The Indian Tribe & Native Hawaiian Digital Library Digital Library contains a wealth of information about the Tribal and Native Hawaiian consultations. In the library you will find:

Section 106 Regulations
Guidance Documents
Agreement Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Policy Documents
Publications
The following digital library section contains great introductory information and general resources for the Section 106 Process.
  1. SECTION 106 AND THE U.N. DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: GENERAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
    Guidance Document
  2. Native American Program Fact Sheet
    Publication
    The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) works with federal agencies, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to address critical consultation issues.
  3. The Relationship Between Executive Order 13007 Regarding Indian Sacred Sites and Section 106
    Guidance Document
      The Relationship Between Executive Order 13007 Regarding Indian Sacred Sites and Section 106 Introduction
  4. Types of Agreement Documents in Section 106: What They Are and When They Should Be Used
    Guidance Document
    There can be some confusion about agreements among Section 106 participants. The ACHP offers this guidance to clarify the different types of agreements mentioned in the ACHP’s regulations at 36 CFR Part 800 and when it is appropriate to use them.
  5. Agency Section 106 Agreements with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations
    Public Resources
    The 1992 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act recognized and expanded the role of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in the national preservation program. In response to these changes, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) revised its regulations to clarify their role in the Section 106 process.
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