Community Archaeology and the Nuniaq Culture Camp: Undergraduate Perspectives on Practicing Community-Based Archaeology in Old Harbor, Alaska

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In July 2023, the Old Harbor Archaeological History Project partnered with the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor and the Old Harbor Alliance to co-facilitate Nuniaq Culture Camp on Sitkalidak Island, Alaska. Thirty-five Alaska Native children and teens from Old Harbor attended a five-day culture camp, in which they participated in archaeological excavation, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq harvesting practices, beadwork, and dance, among other activities. These activities, both new and familiar, were run by Elders, cultural experts, and our group of archaeologists. Here, we reflect on our experience participating in Nuniaq Camp as undergraduate archaeology students. Each day we worked with small groups of youth and community members to excavate a house and midden at the Ing’yuq site (KOD 114), as well as sift, wet screen, and identify material belongings. We found our positionality as student leaders aided in developing a welcoming learning environment by embracing transparency, humility, and empathy. Teaching was reciprocal; we learned from the children, Elders, and cultural experts about the perspectives, traditions, and day-to-day lives of Sugpiaq people, rooting the archaeology into relevant contexts. As some of the youngest leaders, we formed genuine connections, friendships, and mentorships with the youth as we served as role models and support.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39357.0