SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Representatives of multiple tribal nations visited Schriever SFB Sept. 16 to facilitate discussions, build relationships and break bread with Space Base Delta 41 leadership and other members of Team Schriever.
Known as the Department of the Air Force Front Range Tribal Consultation, the visit was one of multiple tribal meetings with DAF installations located along Colorado’s Front Range, including Buckley SFB, Peterson SFB, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The consultation consisted of six members from five tribal nations — Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; and Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.
As tribal representatives are considered representatives of sovereign nations, SBD 41 welcomed them as national dignitaries. The event began with U.S. Space Force Col. Eric Bogue, SBD 41 commander, and fellow command leadership meeting, briefing and presenting gifts such as sweet grass and buffalo jerky to tribal representatives before sitting down to share a meal and conversation.
“Relationship building is an important part of Schriever SFB’s mission,” said Lisa Oliver, SBD 41 Cultural Resources Program manager. “We are honored to be chosen to have this opportunity to support these tribal relations and hold safe the indigenous knowledge given us.”
The meal was immediately followed by a field survey to review and discuss tribal findings from a previous visit — native Colorado plants considered significant for harvesting and tribal cultural heritage, and a rock formation of river stones, believed to be brought to the area, that are in exact alignment with the constellation Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear.
Traditional Cultural Places Survey
The consultation marks the second time this year that tribal nations visited Schriever SFB, the first taking place from July 21–25 to conduct a survey.
Referred to as a Traditional Cultural Places survey, the survey provides tribal nations the opportunity to visit government installations to identify, evaluate, record and mark for protection areas of religious, traditional and cultural significance.
Consisting of 12 command volunteers and 11 Tribal Cultural Specialists from six tribal nations physically spanning 644 acres of land, the survey provided SBD 41 with the opportunity to conduct its federal trust and treaty responsibilities with participating tribal nations. Participating tribes included Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, South Dakota; and Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota.
“The TCP survey enables Schriever SFB to fulfill its mission of documenting and protecting cultural resources within its boundaries,” said Jessica Woo, SBD 41 environmental chief. “The primary goal of this effort is to facilitate the inclusion of interested tribal partners sharing their knowledge across the base landscape to document additional important cultural features.
“It is critical that federal agencies recognize cultural resources as being significant national assets and take a proactive role in the identification and stewardship of cultural resources on public lands.”
Under the newly activated SBD 41, Lisa Oliver coordinated the logistics of Schriever SFB’s Tribal Consultation.
“During the post-field portion of the survey, tribal cultural specialists had the opportunity to consult with their tribal historic preservation officers, tribal elders, and other appropriate knowledge keepers about their field findings,” Oliver said. “Should a site be identified as a potential TCP, as defined in the National Park Service National Register Bulletin Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties, the appropriate notation will be made in the TCP report for the installation to consult with the appropriate state agencies for eligibility.”
Engagements such as this survey are required through various federal laws, regulations and executive directives that guide government-to-government consultation with tribal nations, including Department of the Air Force Instruction 90-2002 DAF Interactions with Federally Recognized Tribes.
“Although Tribal endeavors are required through mid-1800s treaties and treaty rights, in combination with relevant federal laws and regulations, relationship building is an important part of SBD 41’s mission,” Oliver said. “These TCP Surveys are the first among our Colorado Front Range U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force installations.”
Now that Tribal members have determined the constellation rock formation area is culturally important, details will be taken back to tribal councils for recommendations regarding registration with the State Historic Preservation Office of Colorado for the area to be protected.
To learn more about tribal consultations and TCP’s, visit the National Park Service’s Publications of the National Register of Historic Places page.