Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO)
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO)
Pursuant to Section 101(b)(3) of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has assumed the role of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) on all tribal lands and consultation responsibilities concerning federal actions under Section 106 of the NHPA for the Wampanoag Nation ancestral lands. Duties of the THPO include:
Maintains an inventory of historic and culturally significant properties on tribal lands;
Identifies and nominates properties to the National Register and otherwise administers applications for listing historic properties on the National Register;
Develops and implements a comprehensive, reservation-wide historic preservation plan covering historic, archaeological and traditional cultural properties;
Advises and assists, as appropriate, federal and state agencies and local governments in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities;
Cooperates with the Secretary, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and other federal agencies, state agencies, local governments and organizations and individuals to ensure that historic properties are taken into consideration at all levels of planning and development;
Provides public information, education and training and technical assistance in historic preservation;
Consults with federal agencies in accordance with Section 106 of the Act on:
1. Federal undertakings that may affect historic and culturally significant properties within the boundaries of the reservation;
2. The content and sufficiency of any plans to protect, manage or to reduce or mitigate harm to such properties;
Advises and assists in the evaluation of proposals for rehabilitation projects that may qualify for federal assistance, such as historic preservation income tax credits.
Copies of the following THPO documents can be accessed using Adobe Acrobat Reader, including:
Agreement Between the NPS and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) for the Assumption by the Tribe of Certain Responsibilities Pursuant to the NHPA.
Map of the Wampanoag Nation Ancestral Homeland
Important THPO websites, including: