Tribal Heritage Management Programs in Action at the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona

Many Native American communities have developed their own archaeology programs and taken over management of cultural resources from Federal agencies. This has increased interactions between non-tribal archaeologists and members of native communities, and resulted in greater numbers of Native Americans becoming trained archaeologists. This synchronism has fostered new understandings of the past and has led to research that is scientifically valid while also reflecting tribal cultural concerns. Archaeologists have benefited from increased exposure to traditional knowledge and beliefs, and Tribes have developed new avenues for communicating their knowledge of the past in ways that will reach a broader audience. Papers in this session highlight the diverse investigations undertaken by the Gila River Indian Community's Cultural Resource Management Program and Tribal Historic Preservation Office in south-central Arizona. Presentations highlight recent findings from archaeometry investigations, controlled experimental studies of traditional technology, wildland fire archaeology program deployments, rock art preservation efforts, and large-scale cultural resource management investigations.