Cultural Compliance Series: Meet Nate Thomas from Bureau of Land Management

We asked Nate Thomas from the BLM-Utah a little bit about what he does and who he works for. Here’s what he said!

1. What is the agency and what does it do?

The Bureau of Land Management or BLM, is a federal agency within the government of the United States of America. The BLM is a land managing agency. The majority of the lands that the BLM manages are in the western United States, however the BLM manages millions of acres of mineral deposits in the eastern states. Within the organization of the federal government, the BLM is under the direction of the Department of Interior. The National Park Service is also under the direction of the Department of Interior. However, the United States Congress gave the BLM a different mission than the National Park Service. The BLM manages Public lands with a conservation mission that allows for multiple-uses and activities. The BLM does its best to manage this Public lands for future generations.    

The BLM has the important responsibility of managing archaeological, historical, and traditional-use sites, commonly referred to as ‘cultural’ or ‘heritage’ resources on public lands in Utah. Heritage resources are fragile, irreplaceable resources that are part of our Nation’s heritage and Utah has a unique and rich array of these resources representing 13,000 years of human history. The variety of heritage resources on public lands in Utah ranges from; Barrier Canyon Style pictographs to pioneer inscriptions, Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings to historical cabins, and prehistoric artifact scatters to historic mining debris. BLM-Utah manages these cultural resources as an important part of our Nation’s heritage.

As part of the responsibility to manage these resources, BLM-Utah identifies and evaluates the potential for each heritage resource to provide a scientific, traditional, experimental, or public use for the American public. BLM-Utah also has the responsibility to protect and preserve in place heritage resources on public lands for the benefit of present and future generations.

2. Who are you?

I’m Nate Thomas, I’m the State Archaeologist for the BLM in Utah. I also help the BLM consult with Tribal governments. I have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Utah State University and a master’s degree in Archaeology and Ancient History from the University of Leicester. I enjoy cowboy poetry, running, weight-lifting, and spending time with family and friends

3. What is the biggest challenge in your agency for cultural resources?

Cultural resources are a non-renewable resource and the BLM has a multiple-use mission. Our biggest challenge is managing these multiple uses, while protecting these important resources. 

4. What is the biggest positive/joy in your agency?

The BLM has a “can do” attitude and a positive working environment. Many of the proposed projects that we work on are challenging, and having a good attitude about them brings joy to me.

Check out the BLM online below!

https://www.blm.gov/programs/cultural-heritage-and-paleontology/archaeology/what-we-manage/utah

https://www.blm.gov/