About Us

Tribal Historic Preservation Office

THPO

Protecting Me-Wuk heritage

The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, a federally recognized Indian Tribe, in its effort to exercise the government-to-government relationship between the United States of America, the State of California, and other Indian Tribes, has assumed the functions of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) with respect to tribal lands. The Buena Vista Rancheria Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) Plan, presented to the National Park Service (NPS) in 2010, demonstrates that the Buena Vista Rancheria is fully capable of assuming the functions of the California SHPO, pursuant to Section 101(d)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended in 1992, on Tribal lands. The Buena Vista Rancheria THPO consults on federal undertakings both on and off tribal lands within the Tribe’s ancestral territory that may affect historic properties of spiritual and cultural significance. The Buena Vista Rancheria is the center of a thriving contemporary Me-Wuk culture, well-founded in traditional beliefs, practices, and values. The Tribe’s goal is to protect, preserve, enhance, promote, and encourage Me-Wuk culture for current and future generations, partnering with neighboring Tribes, local agencies, institutions, and museums to pursue long-term protection of Me-Wuk heritage.

Michael DeSpain

Chief Operations Officer / Natural Resource Director

Michael DeSpain has over 30 years of professional experience in all aspects of Natural Resources, Environmental, Housing, Emergency Management, Wildland Fire, Transportation, and Historic Preservation, and is a graduate of the Emergency Management Institute Advanced Academy (NEMMA). As the Tribe’s Chief Operations Officer and Natural Resource Director, he oversees the water/wastewater treatment plant and fire station and supports the Tribe’s economic development. He is a certified instructor for NIMS, CERT, Cultural Resource Management, Wildland Fire and Aviation (NWCG), and an adjunct instructor for FEMA and Pierce College in Washington State. He also serves as a Tribal Representative for the California Office of Emergency Services First Responders Network, a member of the CalFire Headquarters Tribal Policy working group, Region 9 Tribal Operations Emergency work group lead, and Emergency Manager for Global Vision Consortium. He has written, awarded, and administered numerous U.S. EPA and P.L. 83-638 contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Reclamation, HUD, National Park Service, and Natural Resource Conservation Service, and has been a grant proposal reviewer for the FEMA Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) and an NTIA grant reviewer for Broadband in 2021 and 2022.

Jesus “Jesse” Galvan

THPO Coordinator / Cultural Heritage Specialist

Jesse Galvan started as the Cultural Heritage Specialist (CHS) at Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians in July 2022. He has extensive knowledge of Me-Wuk culture, growing up as part of a California Me-Wuk tribe. His previous work at the Shingle Springs Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Department helped him learn the Me-Wuk language and gather plant material for basketry and cordage making. There he helped with events, interacted with elders, and assisted with community outreach. At Buena Vista Rancheria, he continues helping with community outreach while strengthening the Tribe’s goals for culture and community. As the CHS, he is responsible for gathering cultural knowledge of plants and areas and collecting cultural-related items for basketry, cordage, language, and prayer, as well as monitoring any notifications the Tribe may receive for projects in ancestral territories.

Jesse also serves as the Cultural Monitor of Buena Vista Rancheria — a crucial role in protecting ancestral territory by observing archaeological excavations and construction activities in culturally significant areas. This role inspects the ground during soil disturbance to identify and protect cultural resources and artifacts.

Contact the Tribal Historic Preservation Office

Email THPO@bvtribe.com