Anishinabe Odjibikan is part of a growing trend in archaeology involving the Indigenous peoples whose lands are being excavated — with the work either being led by Indigenous people, done collaboratively or carried out with their consent.
According to Cree/Métis archaeologist Paulette Steeves, the last century of archaeology has invalidated the pre-contact history of the Americas — and the people who lived there for thousands of years.
By ignoring the accomplishments and sophistication of humans in North and South America, the field of archaeology reinforced negative stereotypes, dehumanization and racism, Steeves continued. With this work, she's trying to unerase Indigenous peoples' past histories to help them feel validated and hopeful today.Steeves says more archaeologists are accepting her premise that people have lived in North and South America much longer than previously thought. She thinks it's helping to counter stereotypes and racism against Indigenous peoples.
"We're coming into this eighth fire of healing," she continued. "That fire has many flames … [it's] all of the scholars, Indigenous scholars, and their like-minded peers that are working on pieces of reclaiming, reviving, rehumanizing worldviews of Indigenous people."Kevin Brownlee's view of archaeology today is a far cry from what he learned about the field in school.
Brownlee, who is Cree, asserts that Indigenous peoples had immense skill and created tools, clothing and built incredible structures. "Getting into the classrooms and talking to the youth, you would see the Indigenous kids in the class … coming out of their shell. And they're like, 'It's my history he's talking [about.] That's my people.' And they stand a little bit taller," Brownlee said.
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