How to Honor Sacred Native American Sites: A Guide for Visitors

How to Honor Sacred Native American Sites: A Guide for Visitors
Lyle Balenquah is a Hopi archeologist and river guide who spends a lot of time in Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument. Compared to many other national parks and monuments, Bears Ears is relatively unregulated, with few rangers to protect its diverse archaeological sites. That’s why Balenquah thinks “there has to be increased public education about why this area matters to so many people. It’s incumbent on visitors to learn about the place.” The best way to do that is to hire a Native guide, Balenquah says. http://bit.ly/2m92iyw — Outside

More on the Arability of Chaco Canyon
A multidisciplinary team of experts from the University of Cincinnati determined that the sandy soils of Chaco Canyon were not too salty to grow crops such as maize, beans and squash for the more than 1,200 people who occupied this beautiful but harsh landscape during its most prolific years. http://bit.ly/2un2L3J — University of Cincinnati Magazine

Co-author and UC research associate Samantha Fladd thinks it is improbable that residents would rely on regular deliveries of staple goods from places so far away, especially if they could grow food themselves. “It makes more sense to me that there would be trade relationships where populations would help each other in bad years. To rely on one location for most of your food would not be the most sustainable system,” she said. “I would be skeptical you would see that much patronage.” http://bit.ly/2ukKyUk — Science Daily

All Pueblo Council of Governors Affirms Support for Two Threatened New Mexico National Monuments
The Pueblo nations of the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG) released today their resolution of support and stewardship for New Mexico’s two newest national monuments. Río Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monuments protect outstanding cultural and historical resources, and were designated with significant tribal support following long efforts to preserve these culturally significant landscapes. http://bit.ly/2mcPyXH — All Pueblo Council of Governors

New Mexico Native American leaders are reaffirming their support for two national monuments in the state that were among those reviewed last year by the Trump administration. The All Pueblo Council of Governors passed a resolution Tuesday in support of the Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks monuments. http://bit.ly/2m9x7Dc — Santa Fe New Mexican

White Sands National Monument Might, Might Become a National Park
Before White Sands was a monument, and before the Mescalero Apache and Jornada Mogollon peoples inhabited the area, now-extinct animals also thrived here. Their tracks are preserved in the alkali flats of the valley floor—mammoth, dire wolf, saber-toothed cat, North American camel, and giant ground sloth, all dating back to the last ice age. In fact, White Sands has the highest concentration of megafauna tracks in the United States. http://bit.ly/2zr2nH6 — Outside

Lobbied for Eviscerating Bears Ears National Monument, Became Interim EPA Chief
In 2017, EFI, along with other companies, sought to shrink the size of Bears Ears National Monument, which was designated as protected land under the Obama administration in 2016. Bears Ears threatened to impede an important transport road for EFI and the company feared it could hinder its operations, according to an SEC filing and a letter Chalmers sent to the Department of Interior. As a lobbyist for EFI, Wheeler was present at a meeting he helped arrange in July 2017 with officials from the Department of Interior, according to emails obtained by the Sierra Club through the Freedom of Information Act, and confirmed by Wheeler to CNN. https://cnn.it/2mcMFGl — CNN

Commentary: And Bears Ears Waits…
If the courts ultimately rule that presidents can shrink already designated monuments, none of them — from Muir Woods to the Statue of Liberty — is safe. Chutkan must first decide whether to allow the case to be transferred to federal court in Utah, as Trump’s Justice Department lawyers have requested, or to keep it in the District of Columbia, as the Indian tribes prefer. They believe the fate of America’s public lands are [sic] a national concern, not one state’s. So Bears Ears waits. https://lat.ms/2m7cqaX — Los Angeles Times

Audio: Native Seeds: A Reflection of Time
For the first time in more than 100 years, the Cocopah people will grow sweet corn and tepary beans. In this podcast, Cocopah Cultural Resources Manager Justin Brundin and Environmental Protection Office Director Frank Venegas talk about how these seeds can make an impact on future generations. http://bit.ly/2m6nR2o — Cocopah Now Podcast

Historical Pottery on Display at Pojoaque
Much of the Pueblo’s history is written in its beautiful architecture and breathtaking landscape, but it can also be seen at the Poeh Cultural Center. One of the exhibits [Poeh Cultural Center Executive Director Karl Duncan has] been working on is bringing the people’s pottery to the Pueblo of Pojoaque. “We have a selection of nine pots that are here now. It’s the first phase and the second phase is going to come in early next year,” said Duncan. The pots are on loan from the Smithsonian. http://bit.ly/2m8PuYG — KOB4

Publication Announcement — Pottery Southwest
The most recent edition of Pottery Southwest (Vol. 34 1&2) is now available for download at https://potterysouthwest.unm.edu/. Rautman and Solometo test Mera’s collection strategy, Kurota and Rogers present a detailed discussion of Playas Red, and Swenson investigates what makes the Hopi Blush and presents a paean to the late Hopi master pottery Mark Tahbo. Other features and announcements fill out the issue.

Internship Opportunity — Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park will begin accepting applications for two internship positions. The park is seeking applications from Native youths. The candidates must have a high school diploma. The selected applicants will work two separate three month appointments from November 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019 and February 1, 2019 through April 30, 2019. Applicants will need to identify the three month appointment of their preference. Each intern will receive housing, a uniform allowance, and a $150 a week stipend. The intern’s primary role will be with the interpretation division. Duties will include fee collection and interpretive program development. The intern will also help the park look for opportunities to reach Native communities either through park based or outreach programs. Upon completion of the internship, the candidate will be required to present a synopsis of their experience to youth groups within their own community. To apply, interns must submit a resume and cover letter by email directly to Hilary Grabowska at hilary_grabowska@nps.gov. Applicants can also send their materials to Chaco Culture NHP, ATTN: Friends of Chaco Internship, PO Box 220, Nageezi NM 87037. Applications must be received by July 31, 2018. For more information, contact Hilary Grabowska at 505-786-7014 ext. 261 or Nathan Hatfield at 505-786-7014 ext. 263.

Job Opportunity — National Museum of the American Indian
This position is located in the Repatriation Department, Cultural Resources Center, National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Smithsonian Institution (SI). The employee independently conducts research analysis and submits repatriation recommendations to the Board of Trustees on specific topics as assigned by the supervisor. http://bit.ly/2m6jGUj — USAJobs.gov

Job Opportunity — San Diego State University
The Department of Anthropology at San Diego State University (SDSU) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of assistant professor in the archaeology of human-environmental interaction in North America beginning in Fall 2019. http://bit.ly/2m6kU1R — SDSU

Job Opportunity — Chino Winds and Triangle NRCD (AZ)
Cultural Resources Specialist: Join a team committed to helping agricultural producers and non-industrial private forest landowners improve the health of the land and ensure the long-term sustainability of healthy working lands. The selected candidate will help cooperators and customers implement projects to restore grasslands, improve the health of the forest and address wildlife habitat fragmentation by ensuring their projects will not damage cultural resources and that the projects are in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and other applicable laws. Contact Dawn Salcito, Dawn.salcito@az.usda.gov, for more information.

Lecture Opportunity TONIGHT, Winslow AZ
On Wednesday, July 11, the Homolovi Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society presents Evelyn Billo and Robert Mark (Rupestrian CyberServices), speaking on their visit to a threatened rock art site in Australia. All regular HAS meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 523 W. Second St. You can also join us and the speaker(s) for dinner at 5:00 p.m. at the Historic La Posada Turquoise Room (on your own tab). For more information: skyness54@gmail.com.

Lecture Opportunity REMINDER, Tucson AZ
The Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society (AAHS) is pleased to present Karen Schollmeyer on Monday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the University Medical Center’s DuVal Auditorium (1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson 85724), who will discuss Perforated Plates, Fish Bones, and the Archaeology of the Upper Gila River in the 14th Century. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the AAHS website: http://www.az-arch-and-hist.org/events/, or contact John D. Hall at john.hall@terracon.com with questions about this or any other AAHS program.

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