From Alcatraz to Standing Rock: Archaeology and Contemporary Native American Protests (1969-Today)

Summary

Since the occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes (1969-1971), Native American and First Nation protests have been well-documented through a variety of media. Unfortunately, many Americans and Canadians lack the background necessary to understand the messages being conveyed. For example, after the National Park Service began including the Alcatraz occupation in their site interpretation, I witnessed visitors discussing how inappropriate it was to celebrate a prison riot. More recently, the Standing Rock #NoDAPL protests included misunderstandings about treaties, land ownership, and slogans like "Kill the Pilgrim, Save the Water." As archaeologists, we must be critical of the role our profession plays in these disconnects - from fostering the vanished Indian myths to creating archaeological site boundaries were artifacts, not people, reside. Could (and should) archaeologies of contemporary Native protests reconnect present, past, and future? If so, let’s start with Alcatraz and its 1.4 million visitors a year. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2018   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 283