Abstract:

This volume is a collection of 58 autobiographical chapters by Indigenous archaeologists and heritage specialists from around the world—some community based, some academic, some in other realms—who are working to connect past and present in meaningful, and especially personal ways. As Archaeology continues to evolve, there remain strong tensions between an objective, science-oriented, evidentiary reasoning approach to knowing the past, and a more subjective, relational approach informed by local values, traditional knowledge, and holistic perspective. While there are no maps for these new territories, hearing directly from those Indigenous individuals who have pursued archaeology reveals the pathways taken. Those stories will provide inspiration and confidence for those curious about what lies ahead.