Many people don’t realize how closely the work in the Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Department (THPD) ties into who we are as Poarch Creek people.
Their mission goes beyond preserving artifacts or old buildings; it’s about protecting our identity, reinforcing our sovereignty, and ensuring our story continues to be told by us.
Did you know?
Under Title 39 of the Tribal Code, the THPD upholds and enforces the Tribe’s preservation laws. Their department identifies and protects cultural sites, oversees archaeological projects, cares for ancestral remains and historical items, and documents the stories of our elders through the Oral History Project.
They work with Tribal departments, federal agencies, and other Native nations to safeguard the physical, historical, and cultural landscape of our people. Every site, every artifact, and every story represents a piece of who we are, and they treat each with the respect it deserves.
Did you know?
This work isn’t the THPD alone. Protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. They invite every Poarch Creek Tribal Citizen to help identify and preserve places, history, and items that need protection.
Their mission is clear: to preserve, protect, and promote our history and heritage for generations to come.
They are proud to stand as caretakers of our history—honoring our ancestors, protecting our lands, and ensuring that our story, the story of the Poarch Creek Indians, will always be ours to tell.
“We are committed, day in and day out, to honoring what our ancestors went through to get us where we are today,” says Billy Bailey, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.
This November, as we recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we’re especially grateful for the dedication of the Poarch Creek Indians THPD. They play a crucial role in keeping us connected to our heritage and history as Native people.
The Poarch Creek Indians is the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. From hospitality to aerospace, we continue to operate in a variety of industries across the world. Read more about our Tribe at poarchcreekindians.org.
