Learning to Unlearn: Consulting and Working With and Not Dictating to a Community

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Democratizing Heritage Creation: How-To and When" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Delaware Department of Transportation has a project that will have an adverse effect on two National Register-eligible bridges in south Wilmington through their demolition. This location is within a disadvantaged and predominantly Black community with proud history, as one of the bridges is named for a state legislator from the community. The area has a past of immigrant waves who settled here and worked in the industries of Wilmington that have largely left. The development of an agreement document provides challenges of democratizing the heritage, its focus, recordation, and presentation. The consultation presented a learning opportunity on both sides. When the community was initially asked about their concerns and how the project could provide benefits, the response was largely silence. It was then realized that that approach was novel to them, as the standard practice was to dictate what the agencies thought was appropriate or necessary based on their knowledge and concerns. In addition to reaching an understanding that the community’s opinions, experience, and knowledge matter, different consulting party elements also vie for predominance. It is taking time to build trust and understanding and balance the loud voices with input from all.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Democratizing Heritage Creation: How-To and When   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39981.0