Flipping the Desk: Increasing Tribal Participation in Archaeological Investigations

Summary

Tribal archaeology expands the interpretation of the archaeological record through the incorporation of tribal perspectives. The Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) partnered with the sixth grade students of STOF Pemayetv Emahakv (“Our Way”) Charter School in 2014 to excavate a little known, historic, Anglo-American home-site on the Seminole Brighton Reservation. The THPO worked with the students to document their observations and participate in the site’s excavation. Contrary to traditional archaeological projects, in which non-natives investigate and decipher native sites, this field school focused on Seminole interpretations of a non-Seminole site. This research, in tandem with oral histories gathered from tribal members, allowed for a more expansive view than previously recorded. This project utilizes the active engagement of tribal members and archaeologists in order to yield a more nuanced, complete view of the past.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Community Matters: Active Involvement with Tribal Communities, the Many Roles of Tribal Heritage Management

Keywords

Spatial Coverage