Native American-Archaeologist relations topic of Dartmouth conference

Posted 05/18/01

The interests of Native Americans and archaeologists have often been at odds in the past century. However, a Dartmouth conference on May 25-27 will envision the future of archaeology as seen through the eyes of Native Americans who are engaged in the field.

"On the Threshold: Native American-Archaeologist Relations in the 21st Century," is the title of the spring 2001 Native American Studies conference at Dartmouth. Archaeologists of Native American heritage will be the featured speakers during the weekend. All events are free and open to the public. Click here for a complete schedule.

North American archaeology traditionally has given little attention to the interests of American Indians, said conference organizer Deborah Nichols, Professor of Anthropology at Dartmouth.

"Starting in the late 1960s, Native American individuals and groups began to openly express distrust of archaeology especially with regard to American Indian human remains," she said.

Tribal groups often felt they were losing control of their history along with the artifacts, added Joe Watkins, an official at the Bureau of Indian Affairs also an event organizer.

"American Indians now feel that, as ancestors of those who produced the materials, they have the right to be active participants in the stories written about those materials," he said.

With the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1989, relations between museums, archaeologists and Native Americans were restructured, Nichols said. However archaeologists and tribal groups still sometimes find that their priorities are not aligned.

"The most important challenge often concerns what archaeology may contribute to a particular tribe or community and how archeology may relate to that tribe's or community's values, beliefs, interests and goals," she said.

However, a growing number of Native American archaeology and preservation programs, as well as Native American archaeologists, could help bridge the historic gap.

"Each of us American Indian archaeologists are trying to change not only the way archaeologists view American Indians but also the way American Indians view archaeologists," Watkins said.

The weekend will begin with a plenary address by Roger Echo-Hawk, Repatriation Coordinator at the Denver Art Museum and the Colorado Historical Society. He will speak on "An Unspeakable Past: Dehumanizing and Rehumanizing Ancient Americans," at 4 p.m. Friday, May 25, in Filene Auditorium. A reception and community dinner will follow.

Saturday morning sessions include Watkins speaking on "Segregating the Past, Integrating the Present: A History of the Relationships between Archaeologists and American Indians," Janine Bowechop of the Makah Cultural and Research Center discussing "The Makah Tribe and the Archaeological Community: A Thirty Year Perspective," and John Norder from the University of Michigan Anthropology Department speaking on "Growing Up with NAGPRA."

Richard Begay from the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources and the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program will speak on "Iiya: Leave Archaeology Alone!" Desiree Martinez of Harvard University's Anthropology Department will follow with "Reshaping Archaeology: Building Partnerships with Native American Communities." The last session will feature Dorothy Lippert from the Houston Museum of Natural Science discussing "Our Reflected Selves: Discovering Native American Lives Through Archaeology."