Best Practices for Establishing Tribal Cultural Resource Monitoring Protocols

Tribal cultural resource monitoring involves tribal members in testing or data recovery projects in areas that have known precontact or contact period archaeological sites, or that have been identified as having high potential to contain such resources. Construction projects on tribal land or in areas with known or suspected cultural resources of tribal interest may also be subject to tribal cultural resource monitoring. Ideally, tribal cultural resource monitors are culturally affiliated with the project area and are provided with special training from their tribal leaders. The participation of tribal monitors presents the opportunity to apply indigenous knowledge to the identification and interpretation of historic properties and provides an opportunity for tribes to be involved early in project planning. Such participation benefits state departments of transportation (DOTs) by identifying concerns early so that steps can be taken to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impact a project may have on resources that are important or sacred to tribes. Typically, when tribal cultural resource monitoring is required, state DOTs seek out tribal input, and negotiate and execute the monitoring agreement, on a project-by-project basis. This consultation can take time and effort for the state DOT by establishing engagement protocols and guidance on methods of implementation to improve the quality and timeliness of this consultative process for all parties. The objective of this research is to research and document successful, meaningful, and effective tribal engagement practices and protocols applied during the project delivery process. This research shall emphasize the benefits of tribal cultural resource monitoring and draw from the experience of states where successful tribal cultural resource monitoring agreements are in place.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6064
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $400,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-147

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Weeks, Jennifer

• Start Date: 20260608
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Archaeological surveying; Construction projects; Cultural resources; Indigenous peoples; Monitoring; Project delivery; Tribal government
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992195
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-147
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 4:54PM