Collaborative Archaeology in Willapa Bay, Washington: Supporting Communities through Scientific Research

Summary

How can archaeologists and indigenous communities work together to transform an understanding of prehistory into something that serves the community’s goals? Since the 1990’s archaeologists have become increasingly dedicated to developing new ways to directly and meaningfully engage descendant communities. This paper presents a case study of collaborative and applied archaeology from the Pacific Northwest Coast. In it, we describe our ongoing efforts to collaboratively define the questions, methods, and outcomes of archaeological investigations at Nukaunanlth Village in Willapa Bay, Washington. Through rigorous scientific analyses of archaeological deposits, oral histories, and ethnohistorical accounts pertaining to prehistoric subsistence practices, we aim to support and reinvigorate culturally important foodways that are in danger of being lost within the current descendant community. In particular, we hope that results stemming from our collaboration will aid in the community’s legal battle to regain their ancestral fishing rights.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22411