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Eastern Shoshone Tribal Historic Preservation Office

Our Approach

The Eastern Shoshone Tribal Historic Preservation Office (ESTHPO) is responsible for implementing some or all of the State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) responsibilities with respect to Tribal lands.

Our Story

The ESTHPO was established on January 17, 1995. The program was to serve as a representative contact in protecting historic properties and Cultural traditions on Eastern Shoshone Lands and Aboriginal homelands.

On June 14, 2011, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe became the 119th Tribe to assume historic preservation duties that were previously the responsiblity of the State.

THPO Functions

  • ESTHPO works diligently to help Federal Agencies (Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish & Wildlife, WYOdot, Federal Communications Commission, Army Corps) comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and other Federal Laws to deliver needed services to Tribal Communities on large & small scale projects.
  • Government to Government relationships with State, Local, and Tribal Programs. (Fish & Game, Law Enforcement, IHS, TWE, Housing).
  • Work Closely with Military installations. Examples include: Ongoing consultation with the Wyoming National Guard, Camp Guernsey Project, Cheyenne WY. Various Air Force bases located in the State of Colorado & Utah.
  • Work with our Tribal Elders for historical interviews, and other important oral stories that reflect the life on the Wind River Reservation (Native plants project)
  • Create updated MOU's regarding Cultural Clearances on Oil & Gas Fields that are on the Reservation. This is done before any type of drilling is initiated on Reservation Lands.
  • Conducting Cultural Clearance home site surveys for enrolled members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. Within Reservation Boundaries.
  • Creating Educational Outreach Opportunities for our Tribal Youth & local Schools. 
  • Implementing a ES Cultural GIS Registry Database. Housing all of our Cultural GIS Data and Historic Maps & Photos.
  • Providing oversight for repatriation per NAGPRA and related matters. 

Meet the Team

The ESTHPO have three employees that are responsible for the overall operations and maintenance of the program.  The ESTHPO also utilizes the recommendations of our Tribal Elders and also contract skilled Traditional Cultural Specialists for projects that have a potential for disturbing Tradition Cultural Properties on Eastern Shoshone Aboriginal Home Lands.

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Joshua Mann

Director

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Margaret Wagon

Office Manager

Next Steps...

Please look at what the ESTHPO has planned for 2023!