On today’s episode Jessica hosts Dr. Jason De León, professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. De León talks about how he found himself at a cross roads with traditional archaeology and completely changed his career to better match his values. We discuss his work with the Undocumented Migration Project, conducting archaeological, ethnographic, and forensic anthropology methods to better understand the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as his Hostile Terrain exhibition. We talk about the complicated ethics involved, civil disobedience in the face of injustice, representation, and what we can all do in the face of this structural violence. A fascinating look into how to use anthropology to address current issues in a new way.
Pawnee Nation NAGPRA - Ep 96
On today’s episode, Jessica chats with Martha Only a Chief [Pawnee (Chawi) and descendant of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe; NAGPRA Coordinator for the Pawnee Nation] about her experiences working on NAGPRA and for the Cultural Resources Division of the Pawnee Nation. She explained what the basic NAGPRA process is like, Pawnee’s specific approach, and how it has changed since she started this work. We also talked about what approaches she appreciates from the institutions they work with, as well as coordinating with other Tribes on this work. Finally she shares some personal experiences doing this work and what this work means to the Pawnee.
Links
https://pawneenation.org/cultural-resource-division/
Contact
ArchPodNet
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Affiliates
Perspectives from a Post-Menopausal Brown Girl in CRM - Ep 95
On today’s episode, Jessica chats with Trish Fernandez (Founder and Principal at InContext). Jessica and Trish discuss Trish’s journey into archaeology, including working in CRM as a mother of a young child. Trish describes her Masters research looking at Mexicans in the gold rush and how themes found in that work continue to resonate today. Next Trish describes her path to founding InContext and the culture she wanted to provide for her employees. Finally, she describes an large important excavation project in NAPA, what she learned from working on a controversial ethnography project during COVID, and the importance of advocating for the rights of workers in archaeology.
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
Affiliates
Seeing the Hozhó in Anthropology - Ep 94
On today’s episode, Jessica chats with Kendrick McCabe (Ethnographer and Cultural Resource Specialist at Parametrix). Kendrick talks about switching from studying Engineering to Anthropology at the University of Alaska after connecting with Alaska Native classmates. This experience led to an interest in Indigenous naming and identity. Later he continued this work by looking at how people express and shape their culture through the lens of social media. Finally, we talk about his ethnographic and cultural resource work at Parametrix, from working with a local Diné community on a historic uranium mine to working on the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project, as well as on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Kendrick peppers in lots of good advice for anyone doing Tribal Consultation, Ethnographic, or Cultural Resources work with Indigenous communities!
Transcripts
For a transcript of this episode, tap the Zencastr icon on in the upper left corner of the Podcast image.
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
Affiliates
Working with Tribes as a Non-Anthropologist - Ep 93
On today’s episode, Jessica chats with Maia Poston (They/Them; Tribal Liaison and Manager of Project Support for InContext). Maia talks about growing up at archaeology sites, their thesis on Manifest Destiny, Liminality, and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, and eventually finding their way to NAGPRA work. For anyone new to NAGPRA or working with Tribes, they give lots of useful tips on how to approach the soft skills of that work, considerations to think about, and how to reframe your approach. They round out the conversation by talking about how Incontext, as a CRM company, wants to change the way they work with Tribes and be part of the process of breaking down barriers between the CRM world and Tribes.
Transcripts
For a transcript of this episode, tap the Zencastr icon on in the upper left corner of the Podcast image.
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet