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“Bertha Parker Pallan (Cody) (1907-1978) (6891503755)” by Smithsonian Institution flickr.com/people and uploaded by Magnus Manske from Wikimedia Commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bertha_Parker_Pallan_(Cody)_(1907-1978)_(6891503755).jpg) and was originally a digital photo posted by the Smithsonian on flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/smithsonian/6891503755/) / Public domain (or no known copyright restrictions)
Course description and introduction
In the Spring 2026 version of ARCHY 369 A (cross listed with ARCHY 573), we'll be creating a collaborative understanding of Indigenous archaeology. While for undergraduates this class is under the ARCHY 369 heading as a "delineation and analysis of a specific problem or related problems in archaeology focusing on developing research and scholarly communication skills", for graduates the course is summarized as "examin[ing] theory, method, and ethical issues raised by Indigenous approaches to archaeological practice."
Rather than approach Indigenous archaeologies as a problem, we'll explore a wide variety of topics important to understanding the history and foundations of Indigenous archaeologies, methodologies, and sciences within a global context. By considering different understandings of Indigeneity around the world and exploring both specific case studies, such as the care of human remains, and broad topics, such the development and application of the CARE principles, this course will introduce participants to a the ways that Indigenous archaeologies are becoming a necessary element of archaeological practice.
The course will center reading, watching, listening to, or more broadly consuming different works to understand approaches to Indigenous archaeology-related topics. Underlying each of these, and as part of the framework for the course, is the idea of archaeology as storytelling. In support of this, the course will develop around a story-centered research project where students will explore an Indigenous archaeology-related topic. Students should have some familiarity with archaeology and it's vocabulary as we won't necessarily have a lot of time to provide introductions to foundational archaeological concepts. Student without this are welcome to join but be prepared to do some work on their own to get themselves caught up.
By completing the work and engaging with the material from this course you will:
- Understand the relationship between archaeology and Indigenous communities around the world
- Reflect on Indigenous communities’ survivance from time immemorial to the present as demonstrated through oral histories and archaeological evidence
- Evaluate how to build relationships between Indigenous knowledge and archaeological practice
- Improve your ability to frame archaeological research within an Indigenous archaeological lens for different audiences
- Practice developing and executing a public-facing, story-centered archaeology-related product