Reflections on a Decade of Practice in Indigenous Archaeologies: A Perspective from Canada

Abstract

My first attempt at applying a perspective grounded in Indigenous archaeology to the study of cultural landscapes arose from my dissertation research in 2014 (Amundsen-Meyer 2014a). I attempted to braid Indigenous and Western knowledge (i.e., Wall Kimmerer 2013) to more fully understand the past, which I firmly believed was the way forward to decolonize the discipline of archaeology. Since 2019, I have had the privilege of working with, for and on the Siksika First Nation and of learning from many Elders and Knowledge Holders in the community. Reflecting on these experiences, I have begun to wonder if braiding knowledge may, in some cases, contribute to ongoing colonialism in archaeology. This paper will explore the concept of Indigenous archaeology and pose questions and put forward suggestions for future collaborative work as we come to terms with the longstanding colonial history of our discipline.