Historic Preservation Office

Delaware Nation Historic Preservation Office

The mission of the Delaware Nation Historic Preservation Office is to preserve the culture, history, ancestral lands, and sacred sites, objects of cultural patrimony, materials, and objects possessing ongoing cultural significance to the Delaware Nation. Our department conducts meaningful government to government consultation with local, state, federal agencies, and organizations in the Delaware Nation’s 18 state area of interest to achieve this goal.

The Historic Preservation Office of the Delaware Nation is committed to the preservation and protection of our history. Through Section 106 reviews, consultation, and monitoring, we can protect our lands of tribal interest from physical destruction and or damage, our sacred sites such as cemeteries and ceremonial locations, and the flora and fauna of historic importance to our tribe. Our office focuses on the historic oversight of 18 states, 6 of which our oversight encompasses the entire state while we oversee specific counties in the remaining 12 states. Our purpose is to protect archaeological sites which might contain burials and associated funerary objects.

It is the mission of the Delaware Nation’s Historic Preservation Office to protect, preserve, and perpetuate our story so future generations may continue to pass on the rich history and culture of the Delaware people. The programs under the guidance of the Department are: Section 106 reviews of all federal projects, our Archives, Library, Museum & Gift Shop.

Learn more about our Historic Preservation Office by clicking on the links below:

Section 106 Program

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) required Federal agencies to take into account the effect of their undertakings on historic properties, and afford the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment.

The funding of the program comes directly from the Historic Preservation Office Budget (Section 106). It is supported by no federal monies, however, requests for additional assistance may be submitted and approved by the Executive Committee, at their discretion. 

Tribal consultation is required in all steps of the Section 106 process when a federal agency undertaking may affect historic properties that are either (1) located on tribal lands, or (2) when any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization attaches a religious or cultural significance to the historic property, regardless of the property’s location.

When an undertaking occurs on tribal land, the federal agency must notify appropriate Indian tribes of the undertaking and give those tribal groups the opportunity to consult, should they wish to do so. Consultation should be conducted in a manner recognizing the unique government to government relationship that exists between the federal government and tribes, should be respectful of tribal sovereignty, and should be sensitive to the concerns and needs of the Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

If they agree that there will be no adverse effect, the agency proceeds with the undertaking and any agreed-upon conditions.  If they find that there IS adverse effect, or if the parties cannot agree and ACHP determines within 15 days that there is an adverse effect, the agency begins consultation to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effects.  

The Delaware Nation Section 106 Program, under tribal sovereignty, does require charging consultation fees.  These fees we collect go back into the Historic Preservation Office department to maintain cultural activities, classes, materials as well as administrative fees and maintenance of the Delaware Nation.

Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Extension Office

“Delaware Nation is pleased to announce that we have established an MOU with Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) and their Institute for Indigenous Studies (IIS) to move our extension Historic Preservation Office to Lehigh’s campus. Delaware Nation will maintain its relationship with the Museum of Indian Culture (Allentown, PA), but will no longer manage an official office within the museum due to the incompatibility of the museum’s weekend-only operating hours.

 

Housing an extension Historic Preservation Office on Lehigh University’s campus allows for regular weekday operating hours. Also, it increases Delaware Nation’s access to academic resources and collaborative opportunities with the Institute for Indigenous Studies and the university as a whole. This PA office will facilitate Delaware Nation’s access to the ancestral homelands, and allow us to more efficiently respond to NAGPRA, historic preservation, and other education-related concerns in the region. Local relevant inquiries can be directed to Delaware Nation through this extension office, managed by our staffed Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Katelyn Lucas.

 

These partnerships between Delaware Nation’s Historic Preservation Office and various institutions build greater collaboration to increase educational resources and opportunities in Lenape homelands, supporting our mission to protect, preserve, and perpetuate Delaware Nation’s history and culture for future generations.”

Carissa Speck

Historic Preservation Director

Phone: (405) 247-2448 Ext. 1403

Email: cspeck@delawarenation-nsn.gov

Tribal Affiliation: Seminole Nation

Katelyn Lucas

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

Phone: (405) 544-8115

Email: klucas@delawarenation-nsn.gov

Billie Anderson

Archivist

Phone: (405) 247-2448 Ext. 1408

Email: banderson@delawarenation-nsn.gov

Tribal Affiliation: Delaware Nation

Tiffany Martinez

TCNS Coordinator

Phone: (405) 247-2448 Ext. 14081182

Email: tmartinez@delawarenation-nsn.gov

Tribal Affiliation: Comanche Nation

Gina Smith

Librarian/Gift Shop Manager

Phone: (405) 247-2448 Ext. 1196

Email: GWooster@delawarenation-nsn.gov

Tribal Affiliation: Caddo Nation

Library

The purpose of the library is to meet the informational needs of the Delaware Nation as well as the surrounding community, of resources and services available to serve the recreational, informational and cultural needs of all people in this area.

Anyone who qualifies under the set policies is able to obtain a library card. The library provides over 6,000 books, magazines, newspapers, audio and video cassettes, DVD’s and other library materials. We provide Inter-Library loans through Oklahoma Library Technology Network. The library is fully automated using the Atrium Book System On-line database. All books and materials are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Each patron may check out 4 materials each and all are due in 2 weeks. The library provides public access computers on a first come, first serve basis with a 2 hour limit per day, a copy machine is also available for public use.

The Library in its mission is to fulfill the information and entertainment needs of the entire community, by maintaining a diverse collection. The library is a window to the world; however, that window may contain some books and other materials you do not want your children to read or view. The library respects your concerns, but the library is a public library. To restrict or censor materials based on the views of one person, a few persons, or guidelines of a group would violate the First Amendment rights of other with differing views and opinions. To be sure you children borrow materials you consider appropriate for them, you should accompany them to the library and select books, DVD’s, and magazines that match their reading level and interest. Your children should make decisions about what to read and what to watch with the person who knows them best – YOU. To help the library system purchase materials that you and your family might enjoy and need for research, please offer suggestions. Titles of books and other publications are invited and will assist the library staff in its mission to provide a broad range of ideas and information. They will be purchased when they are available and when it is financially possible. It is the policy of the library to maintain an up-to-date collection of standard works in all fields of knowledge, that are permanent value, plus timely materials on current issues and items in current demand.

The library does have a donation policy and is grateful for all gifts. Collections and facilities have been enriched by individuals and community organizations that have made it a practice to enhance the library with donations. The library, especially welcomes gifts of all materials, on the history of the Delaware community and region.

The library is under the guidance of the Historic Preservation Office Department and welcomes all to come and visit.

The funding of the program comes directly from the Historic Preservation Office Budget (Section 106). It is supported by no federal monies, however, requests for additional assistance may be submitted and approved by the Executive Committee, at their discretion.

 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
Delaware Nation
31064 US Highway 281
Building 100
Anadarko, OK 73005

MAILING ADDRESS:
Delaware Nation
P.O. Box 825
Anadarko, OK  73005

PHONE:  (405) 247-2448
FAX:   (405) 247-9393