The Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) serves as the designated tribal preservation official under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for a federally recognized tribe. Their responsibilities encompass the administration of functions akin to those of a State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) specifically concerning tribal lands. The THPO’s jurisdiction includes the Fort Berthold Reservation and the ancestral homelands of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples. Their mission is to adhere to and uphold the mandates of key federal acts such as the Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Archeological Resources Protection Act, ensuring the preservation and protection of cultural heritage and archaeological resources within these areas.