Knowra Indigenous archaeology Indigenous archaeology Indigenous archaeology is an approach to studying the past that centers Indigenous knowledge, sovereignty, and community priorities in archaeological research and heritage care.
Community-based participatory research : Research conducted through sustained collaboration between researchers and the communities affected by the work. Shared authority can shape archaeological questions, fieldwork, interpretation, and publication.
Colonial archaeology : Archaeological research shaped by colonial institutions and assumptions about Indigenous peoples and their pasts. Indigenous archaeology responds to research practices that displaced Indigenous authority.
Public archaeology : Archaeology that engages public audiences and considers the social consequences of archaeological work. Public engagement does not necessarily transfer authority to Indigenous communities.
NAGPRA : The common abbreviation for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Its procedures govern consultation and repatriation for covered institutions and communities.
Archaeological repatriation : The return of archaeological human remains or cultural materials to Indigenous communities or other rightful claimants. Claims can raise unresolved questions about ownership, evidence, and institutional responsibilities.
Indigenous knowledge : Knowledge systems developed and maintained by Indigenous peoples through lived experience, cultural practice, and intergenerational transmission. It can inform archaeological interpretation alongside material evidence.
Indigenous sovereignty : The inherent authority of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves and their lands, communities, and affairs. Sovereignty grounds claims to control research and heritage decisions.
Collaborative ethnography : Ethnographic research developed with participants through negotiated representation and shared inquiry. It shares collaborative methods but focuses on ethnographic rather than archaeological research.
Ancestral remains : The bodily remains of people who lived in the past, often held in archaeological or museum collections. Their treatment raises questions of consent, dignity, custody, and return.
Cultural appropriation : The taking or use of cultural elements by outsiders, especially where power imbalances and lack of consent are involved. Research and display can reproduce appropriation when knowledge is extracted without permission or benefit.
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