Description

This webinar examines the important role Indigenous Archaeology plays in developing collaborative partnerships that practice the principles of consent, consensus, and collaboration in archaeological projects like the Abiquiú Mesa Project (AMP) in Abiquiú, New Mexico. In the Society for American Archaeology’s Principles of Archaeological Ethics, the phrase “informed consent” is not defined, and the word “consensus” is not found. As more archaeology projects collaborate with Native American communities, defining the concepts of consent, consensus, and collaboration is crucial to incorporate Native American voices and perspectives. In AMP, consent is achieved through communication, voluntary participation, and capacity. Consensus in AMP considers the local context and the distinct levels of agreement by all community partners. Lastly, collaboration serves to build capacity, develop reciprocity, and incorporate Native American community knowledge. Rethinking archaeology with these principles acknowledges historical narratives and knowledge-producing methods that include the voices of the people whose history we study while stepping towards decolonizing the practice of archaeology.