Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes in the Section 106 Review Process: Questions and Answers

July 11, 2012

The consideration of Native American traditional cultural landscapes in Section 106 reviews has challenged federal agencies, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations for some time. There has been confusion regarding what makes a place a traditional cultural landscape, whether they can be considered historic properties, and whether the size of such places influences their consideration under the National Historic Preservation Act. While these are all critical issues worthy of much thought and deliberation among federal agencies, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) wishes to advance this dialogue by first addressing common questions about how such historic properties should be considered in the Section 106 process. While we anticipate that further dialogue will be necessary to resolve these and other issues, this Q and A is offered to move the dialogue forward and improve the consideration of these places in the Section 106 process.