Indigenous Perspectives On Cultural Heritage Management And Preservation

Summary

Cultural Heritage Management has various perceptions when utilized by indigenous communities and archaeologists. Heritage management professionals advocate preserving sites from looters, limiting access to curb erosion and protecting historical places from the degradation of time. Preservation methods may include stopping traditional uses of these locations unless otherwise specified through legislation. Most often, sites are located and archived through historical and archaeological research. Various Sami and Ojibwa groups along with other indigenous communities use cultural heritage management to preserve sites or buildings while allowing for the continued traditional utilization of the place. Often, indigenous perspectives on cultural heritage preservation refer to the passing of cultural knowledge to future generations through the continued traditional use of sites. Many times these places are located through oral history surveys and visual surface surveys with archaeologists and elders. Both of these often contested perspectives speak to the same principle that is at the core of archaeological practice; stewardship. By aligning these methods along the common principle of stewardship, mutually constructive and meaningful partnerships can be achieved.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

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