Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Welcome to the Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Our Vision
The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) vision is to:
- Protect and Preserve culturally significant places both inside and outside of the Community’s borders.
- Educate Community and any interested entities on cultural values, protocols, and significance through outreach and consultation.
- Create a greater awareness of O’odham/Piipaash lifestyles prior to Spanish contact.
Our Mission
The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) mission is to gather, protect, and preserve our traditional cultural knowledge that is the foundation of our ways of life and is a cornerstone of our tribal sovereignty. The THPO will use traditional cultural knowledge to guide us in educating the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and other entities through cultural resource consultation, preservation, and repatriation efforts. This allows us to provide guidance in future decisions that may affect the health and vitality of cultural affairs of the O’odham and Piipaash of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Responsibilities
The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) responsibilities are primarily to work within the framework of laws (Federal, State and Tribal) to identify, protect and preserve Cultural Resources. These are accomplished through continued consultation with federal, state, and tribal agencies for projects on and off the Community. The protection and preservation of existing evidence of our Huhugam Ancestors and culture in the ancestral lands of the O’Odham and Piipaash is imperative.
Education and Outreach
Introduction to Archaeology
Introduction to Archaeology is a lecture series established to share information regarding archaeological studies or projects specific to the O’odham and/or Piipaash. This lecture series is intended for a layperson audience without a professional or academic background in archaeology. SRPMIC tribal members are the primary target audience but non-tribal members are welcome as well.
Please call (480) 362-6325 for more information.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
The Section 106 of the NHPA protects different types of places that are important to the cultural wellbeing of a tribe. This includes archaeological sites, places where traditional activities still occur, and places where the people traditionally harvested plants or other materials to create traditional crafts, objects, or materials.
The THPO conducts Section 106 consultation on new development off the reservation that lies within our aboriginal claims area that is either on federal land, is paid for with federal money, or requires a federal license to take place. The Section 106 Program is also responsible for processing all incoming correspondence from various agencies so a determination can be made as to what program will facilitate the consultation.
For more detailed information visit the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) website.
For more detailed questions or concerns please contact Angela Garcia-Lewis at angela.garcia-lewis@srpmic-nsn.gov or call (480) 362-6325.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
The NAGPRA was passed in 1990 and is a two part law that allows the tribes to claim and bring home their ancestors that were removed from ancestral lands prior to 1990. The act of bringing home our ancestors remains is called repatriation. The second part of the law protects burials on federal land from development that takes place after 1990, and allows tribes to claim burials that are accidentally disturbed by any development after 1990 as well.
The THPO conducts consultation to repatriate our ancestors and their belongings from museums and repositories around the U.S. The CPP also consults with Federal agencies to try to ensure they do development without impacting burials and on cases where burials were impacted by accident or in cases where there was no other choice due to emergencies.
Responsibilities
- The THPO is responsible for consultation:
- On the NAGPRA law itself
- On cultural affiliation of Remains
- On repatriation details once cultural affiliation is determined
- On proper care, handling and housing of Remains
- The THPO is responsible for repatriation of the following items:
- Human remains
- Associated funerary objects
- Items of cultural patrimony
- Sacred objects
- The THPO is responsible to the Community:
- To assist the Community with the annual reburial ceremony
- To respectfully escort the Huhugam to the reburial group
Arizona State Burial Laws
NAGPRA is a very important law regarding burials, but its jurisdiction is specific to federal land, federal agencies or any project with a federal nexus.
AZ State burial laws mirror NAGPRA, but cover privately owned land or land over which the state has jurisdiction. To read more about these laws visit AZ State Burial Laws.
NAGPRA Resources
For more detailed information visit the National NAGPRA website.
For more detailed questions or concerns please contact Martha Martinez at martha.martinez@srpmic-nsn.gov or call (480) 362-6325.
Cultural Sensitivity Training
The THPO conducts a Cultural Sensitivity Training program that is mandatory to employees and contractors that will work in development on the SRPMIC. This training is designed to teach people to recognize the unique cultural heritage of the SRPMIC, to build acceptance and respect for cultural differences, to help people recognize situations that threaten cultural resources, and what to do in those situations to ensure a swift and efficient response to save vital resources. This training has enabled the CPP to reach out to its target audience and to educate the public on cultural resources.
CST Schedule
Starting June 4th, every Tuesday (June-August):
6am – 8am, English Class & Spanish Class
Salt River Council Chambers
10091 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale, 85256
Alternate Location, if necessary: Salt River Community Building
1880 N. Longmore Road, Scottsdale, 85256 (NW corner of Longmore & McDowell)
CST Registration
To register call or email:
Juan Nieto – Operations Manager: (480) 362-2612 | juan.nieto@srpmic-nsn.gov
April Johnson – Cultural Sensitivity Trainer: (480) 362-6332 | april.johnson@srpmic-nsn.gov
Other Info
Parking North of the Council Chambers is prohibited. Click here for designated parking areas.
Earned decals must be worn and visible on the job site at all times. Failure to comply will result in removal from job site.