Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Physical Location:
22 Bay Tree Road, Building A
Kawaik’a Center (old L-A High School)
Paraje, NM 87007
Main Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Pueblo of Laguna
PO Box 194
Laguna, NM 87026
Phone: (505) 552-5033
Fax: (505) 552-5079
E-Mail:
Staff Members:
Richard Smith, Sr., Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Robert Romero, M.A., Cultural Resource Specialist
Alexander Marx, THPO GIS Technician
Yvette Trujillo, Administrative Assistant I
THPO Advisory Committee:
Paul Pino, Chairman
Walter Johnson, Sr., Vice Chairman
Ryan Aragon, Sr., Member
Ray Paul Lucero, Member
Virgil Siow, Member
Wesley Fernando, Member
Randy Whitmore, Member
Mark Romero, Member
Edwin Cheromiah, Sr., Ex-Officio
Program Overview:
Mission Statement
As Kawaikame, through our creator’s vision, we will strive to enhance the quality of our life with great care and diligence by protecting and ensuring our cultural resources and exercising our sovereign rights as a people.
Scope of Work
The Cultural Resources/Tribal Historic Preservation Manager advises the Pueblo leadership in managing, recording and preserving cultural resources and related interests. The THPO also provides other agencies with advice on NAGPRA issues.
Summary:
The THPO office is guided by input from an eight (8) member advisory board made up of traditional kiva leaders, elder statesmen, and the Governor and 2nd Lt. Governor.
The THPO Officer is engaged in the Pueblo’s water rights litigation as an active member of the water rights team sanctioned by tribal Council. The THPO attends meetings with the tribe’s legal counsel on issues as they relate to mining and proposed utility projects by outside industrial companies.
The THPO Officer participates in the Pueblos Land Acquisition Committee to ensure that appropriate cultural impacts and needs are considered during the land purchase process.
The THPO works closely with other Departments and ENRD programs such as Public Works, NALEMP, Rangeland Management, Natural Resources and Environmental Management when recommended or as needs arise for activity such as cultural resource surveys and review of documents as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
THPO reviews projects by entities such as NMDOT, USFS, BLM, BIA, as it relates to tribal consultation as required by CFR 800.2 (c) (2) and 800.4 (a) (4) to help preserve and protect Pueblo of Laguna Cultural Heritage.
The THPO maintains records of cultural surveys that have been completed by both internal and external entities in advance of projects, to protect those resources from disturbance.
The THPO also coordinates repatriation of remains under NAGPRA and negotiates for the return of other culturally important artifacts.
As the program develops we hope to add a museum, language study, and other elements to our THPO Office.
Program Events:
Documents:
THPO Advisory Board By-Laws
Council Resolution 06-15
Council Resolution 07-15
Tribal Heritage Grant #35-13-NA-3531 (P14AP00001)
MICA Grant
NPS Grant