The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has named a new director for its Office of Native American Affairs.

Ira Matt, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, comes to the leadership role with more than 22 years of experience in historic preservation and cultural resources management. He has worked for the ACHP, an independent federal agency, since 2015.

“As director, I intend to assure Indian tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other Indigenous people have an active voice in historic preservation that is grounded in transparency and collaboration,” Ira Matt said in a news release on Thursday.

“I will promote the mission of the ACHP by developing policy recommendations, preparing guidance, and working with the White House Council on Native American Affairs to advance the preservation priorities of all Indigenous people,” said Matt.

Prior to joining the ACHP, Matt served his tribal nation for more than 16 years in a wide range of areas, including cultural preservation. He also worked for the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Department of Energy.

“We are excited to have Ira assume this leadership role,” said Reid Nelson, the acting director of the ACHP. “Ira brings many years of experience, along with his education and tribal background, to the director position. His exemplary work at the ACHP over the years has been vital to the success of ONAA.

“His commitment to the central mission of that office–to support and advance the role of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in the national preservation program–has been a central part of his life’s work.”

The Office of Native American Affairs was established at the ACHP in 1998 by Valerie Hauser, who served as its first director. She retired from federal service on December 31, 2021, after working at the agency since 1989.

“She will be missed and we extend our deepest gratitude for her leadership, mentorship, and friendship,” the ACHP said of Hauser in a post on social media.

We wish Valerie Hauser all the best on her retirement! She joined the ACHP in 1989 and established the Office of Native American Affairs, where she has been its director. She will be missed and we extend our deepest gratitude for her leadership, mentorship, and friendship. pic.twitter.com/JwFXkFvRSG

— Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (@usachp) December 29, 2021

The following is the text of a January 5, 2022, news release from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Acting Executive Director Reid Nelson announced Ira Matt is the new director of the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA). Ira previously served as senior program analyst in ONAA.

“We are excited to have Ira assume this leadership role,” Nelson said. “Ira brings many years of experience, along with his education and tribal background, to the director position. His exemplary work at the ACHP over the years has been vital to the success of ONAA. His commitment to the central mission of that office–to support and advance the role of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in the national preservation program–has been a central part of his life’s work.”

Ira Matt has more than 22 years of historic preservation and cultural resources management experience at both the tribal and federal levels. He began working at the ACHP in 2015 as a program analyst in the Office of Federal Agency Programs. In 2018, he moved to ONAA as a senior program analyst, where he led ONAA’s traditional knowledge initiative and co-authored the ACHP’s Early Coordination with Indian Tribes handbook. He also served on several committees of the White House Council on Native American Affairs.

“As director, I intend to assure Indian tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other Indigenous people have an active voice in historic preservation that is grounded in transparency and collaboration,” Ira Matt said. “I will promote the mission of the ACHP by developing policy recommendations, preparing guidance, and working with the White House Council on Native American Affairs to advance the preservation priorities of all Indigenous people.”

Before joining the ACHP, he worked for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for 16 years in varying capacities, including as Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, resource advisor, tribal archaeologist, and as a wildland firefighter. During this time, he regularly worked with the Cultural Committees and Elder Advisory Boards, Tribal Council, and Salish Kootenai College to generate positive outcomes in cultural resource management by implementing historic preservation as a tool to effectuate cultural perpetuation.

Ira Matt’s prior federal experience includes serving as the Federal Preservation Officer/National Archaeologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and as a tribal affairs specialist for the Department of Energy.

Ira is Salish and an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of western Montana. He received his BA and MA in anthropology from the University of Montana and a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law from the University of Tulsa College of Law.

He succeeds Valerie Hauser, who established ONAA in 1998 and served as its first director. Hauser retired from federal service December 31, 2021.

The Office of Native American Affairs advises the ACHP leadership and staff on policy and program matters related to Native American issues, and offers technical assistance and outreach for tribal and Native Hawaiian organization consultation under the Section 106 review process.

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About the ACHP: An independent federal agency, the ACHP promotes the economic, educational, environmental, sustainability, and cultural values of historic preservation and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It also influences federal activities, programs, and policies that affect historic and cultural properties. See achp.gov for more information.

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