Toward a Decolonized CRM: Challenges in Archaeological Stewardship and Interpretation for Virginia Tribes

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Deep History, Colonial Narratives, and Decolonization in the Native Chesapeake" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Long overdue federal acknowledgment of Virginia’s tribes has created a sea change for many of Virginia’s tribal communities over the last five years. Virginia now has seven federally recognized resident tribes, and an additional five tribes have state recognition. Virginian erasures of Native history have been created not primarily through physical removal but by state-coordinated demographic erasure, an underinvestment in scholarly research for much of the twentieth century, and ignorance regarding community persistence. While cultural resource management represents a critical opportunity for the recovery of some aspects of tribal histories, some projects exacerbate this erasure due to flaws such as a lack of research into nineteenth- and twentieth-century tribal history, use of outdated boilerplate language, unqualified contractors receiving work due to low bids or non-competitive contracts, and pro forma or late outreach. This paper discusses some examples of recent issues facing Virginia tribes as they consult on federal projects.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• Deep History, Colonial Narratives, and Decolonization in the Native Chesapeake

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33279