SHPOs and THPOs Balance between Local and National Needs
Grussing: It starts with respect. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach because each Tribe has its own culture, history, and priorities. Balancing national interests with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination takes time, trust, and a commitment to equity. It also means resisting short-term pressures in favor of long-term stewardship. National priorities should not come at the cost of erasing Indigenous heritage.
That said, when interests do compete, this means tailoring solutions, advocating for flexibility in policy, and ensuring THPOs and SHPOs have the resources they need to engage. When properly equipped to do their jobs, and properly consulted, THPOs and SHPOs can help ensure that preservation of history, culture, and language does not get lost in the shuffle.
Hein: You have to think about what the national priorities are as a framework, and then you have to take a look at your needs as a state and see where their connections are. It’s really hard. NCSHPO represents 59 states and territories, reflecting very different schools of thought. But at the core, the preservation of historic places is one of those unifying things where there is usually no controversy. We like to think that we’re one of those few areas that shouldn’t cause any friction.
However, if your state is particularly interested in climate, you’re going to look at things through that lens, but you’re still going to be focused on preserving place. And if you’re looking at things in terms of energy production, you’re still going to look at how you could preserve historic places. I mean, the common goal is you’re always looking at how can we save the places that matter and balance that with our need to achieve whatever policy goal is outlined by both federal and state priorities.
