Unresolved Indivisibility: Protecting and Respecting Ainu Intangible and Tangible Heritage

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Archaeology and Indigenous Issues in Hokkaido Island, Japan" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Ainu conceptions of “heritage” connect worldview and place, knowledge and object, intent and action. As is the case in North America and elsewhere, current protection of Indigenous ancestral sites in settler countries foregrounds the tangible and its scientific value, at the expense of cultural values and needs. In the wake of UNDRIP and other similar declarations and acts, those regulatory agents now controlling Indigenous heritage must revise their policies to acknowledge, respect, and protect Indigenous heritage on Indigenous terms. This paper considers a new agenda for Ainu heritage based on Ainu values, UNDRIP articles, human rights, and social justice—in a manner that does not jeopardize traditional archaeological goals.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeology and Indigenous Issues in Hokkaido Island, Japan   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36601.0