Heritage, Pragmatism, and Indigenous Collaboration

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Activating Heritage: Encouraging Substantive Practices for a Just Future" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Over the past 20 years, I have worked with the Hassanamisco Nipmuc of Massachusetts with the express goal of seeing how archaeology can aid the Nipmuc with their own heritage initiatives. In all these efforts, the centrality of pragmatic philosophy has been paramount. Given that North American pragmatic philosophy has strong roots in Indigenous practice, this paper outlines some of the critical intersections between pragmatism and Indigenous archaeology. An openness to indigenous knowledge, direct collaboration with the Hassanamisco, and a commitment to an open research process has resulted in an emphasis on linking Indigenous pasts to Indigenous futures. Our work with the Hassanamisco has also led to a rethinking of heritage goals that challenge traditional archaeological practice that have a profound impact on how Indigenous histories are pursued through collaboration.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Activating Heritage: Encouraging Substantive Practices for a Just Future   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38896.0