Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, Skylar Begay (Director of Tribal Collaboration) and I attended the Conservation Lands Foundation’s biennial Friends Summit in Salt Lake City. Representatives of more than 80 conservation-minded nonprofits from across the American West attended, and it was truly a remarkable event. I’ve never been involved in a gathering quite like it. Unlike many conferences, this one was energizing—from positive outlooks and perspectives to supportive audiences, from great (yes, great!) hotel food to excellent networking opportunities.
Sky and I took a limited supply of our latest magazine, which focuses on collaboration with Tribes and other descendant communities; the copies we brought were gone the first day. Everyone is interested in Tribal collaboration these days, and it is great that Archaeology Southwest is at the forefront of these efforts, AND that we have published on these matters in accessible formats. The work can be intimidating, time consuming, and difficult; the road maps we offer should help guide other organizations (and us!) to potential future success.
One particular highlight for me was getting to see Sky’s fantastic presentation on our coalition’s campaign to get the Great Bend of the Gila designated as a national monument. Sky was part of a panel discussion on “National Monument Campaigns: Turning a Conservation Opportunity into a Movement” that included staff from the Conservation Lands Foundation and the Native American Land Conservancy. We should all be tremendously proud of Sky and everyone at Archaeology Southwest for our leadership in this long-term effort to protect the Great Bend of the Gila. I know I am.
Until next week,
Steve Nash
President & CEO, Archaeology Southwest
Banner image: Early farming in what is now Tucson. Our recently departed colleague Bruce Huckell worked to expand understanding of what life was like in these communities. Visualization by Robert B. Ciaccio
Bruce Huckell, Beloved Southwestern Archaeologist, Passes
We are very sorry to share this sad news about a revered teacher, mentor, and friend to generations of archaeologists. Our friends at Desert Archaeology said it well on social media: “All of us at Desert Archaeology are saddened at the passing of our former colleague and giant of Southwestern archaeology, Bruce Huckell. Bruce’s work in southern Arizona was pivotal in defining the Early Agricultural period and advancing our understanding of how people began cultivating maize and building long-term settlements in riverine desert environments. He was a brilliant collaborator and fierce debate partner who made us better at what we do. Beyond that, he was our friend, and we will miss him dearly.” We at Archaeology Southwest share these sentiments and offer our sincere condolences to his wife Lisa and to his legion of friends.
In Memoriam: Duane Anderson
Duane C. Anderson, Ph.D., former vice president of the School for Advanced Research and director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, died May 8 in Santa Fe. A professional archaeologist, he was an avid proponent of Native American rights, and as the state archaeologist of Iowa, he was responsible for passage of the first state law in the country to protect ancient graves. Most recently, he was a senior scholar for the Fulbright Specialist Peer Review Team. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and other family members. Santa Fe New Mexican (via legacy dot com) | Read his obituary »
Two Arizona Institutions Win Top IMLS Award for 2024
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a zoo, a botanical garden and a natural history museum all in one. Now, it’s getting the highest recognition from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS)—The 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The Desert Museum is one of ten recipients narrowed down from 30 national finalists that displayed excellence in outreach and service to their communities. … The Copper Queen Library in Bisbee also made the cut. KGUN 9 News | Read more »
Visit Colorado’s Dark Sky Parks This Summer
As the summer rolls in and the Earth tilts toward the Milky Way center, there will be plenty of opportunities to stargaze in Colorado. The state is home to 10 International Dark Sky Parks and five International Dark Sky Communities, according to the organization. These certified places have “an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights” and a “dedication to the preservation of the night sky.” Before you head out, the National Park Service recommends choosing a moonless night to get the most out of your experience. Ignacio Calderon for the Fort Collins Coloradan | Read more »
REMINDER: Show Your Support for Alternative E for Managing Bears Ears National Monument before June 11
As the first national monument proposed by a commission of Tribal Nations, the designation of Bears Ears as a national monument is unprecedented—and the plan for managing its lands and resources must be too. The recently released draft resource management plan (RMP) for the Monument signifies a pivotal shift in federal–Tribal relations and the approach to Tribally-informed management of public lands. Alternative E in the draft RMP is the preferred alternative for the Bears Ears Commission, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). This approach to collaborative management respects Tribal lands while reasonably balancing public access and use of the Monument, with protecting its cultural and natural resources. Bears Ears Coalition | Learn more and comment today »
Federal Funding Helps Tribes Build Wildlife Crossings, Connect Lands
Tribes have long been among the staunchest advocates of wildlife crossings. When Montana declared its intent to widen U.S. 93 on the Flathead Indian Reservation in the early 1990s, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes objected: The road, the tribes declared, should “respond to and be respectful of the land and the Spirit of Place.” State and federal engineers, in consultation with tribal officials, eventually included fences and around 40 wildlife crossings—underpasses and a capacious overpass—in the highway’s reconstruction. Roadkill plummeted, and the passages allowed grizzly bears, deer and other species to safely traverse the highway. … When Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg kicked off the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program in April 2023, he did so in New Mexico on the Santa Ana Pueblo, which hopes to build wildlife crossings on nearby Interstate 25 and Highway 550. Ben Goldfarb for High Country News | Read more »
Podcast: Relational Engagement with Indigenous Communities through the Heritage Lands Collective
In this episode, host Jessica Yaquinto goes more in depth with Joseph Gazing Wolf (Executive Director, Heritage Lands Collective [formerly Living Heritage Research Council]; Lakota, Nubian, and Amazigh) from Episode 84 on the Boulder Ethnographic-Education Project. Joseph talks about how his childhood in Egypt and on the Standing Rock reservation inspired his interest in land, heritage, traditional ways of life, and working with elders. He talks more about his work with his buffalo relatives and how that led him to academia. He discusses how the settler-colonial context of academia is harmful to Indigenous scholars and how people in academic settings can engage with Indigenous communities in a relationally respectful manner. Finally, we conclude by talking about the work Heritage Lands Collective is doing and where Joseph would like to take it in the future, including Indigenous youth internships and youth-elder camps. Heritage Voices | Listen now »
Blog: Teapots and Ancient Games: What We Know about Chinese Railroad Workers from What They Left Behind
Golden Spike National Historical Park [Utah] is a small park with a big story. It is a story that includes the labor of thousands of men, far from the comforts of home, building one of the largest engineering marvels of the 19th Century. One of the richest stories in the narrative comes from the Chinese workers employed by the Central Pacific Railroad that overcame adversity and become a large part of the company workforce. … So, what is left behind by a workforce that eventually numbered somewhere between 10,000-12,000 workers? Archaeology gives us the tools to find these materials, called artifacts, and interpret them to understand what building the railroad was like over a hundred and fifty years ago. Lucas Hoagie for Western National Parks Association | Read more »
May Subscription Lecture (Santa Fe NM)
May 27, Henrietta Lidchi, Surviving Desires: Making & Selling Native Jewelry in the American Southwest. 6:00 p.m., Hotel Santa Fe; fees apply. Southwest Seminars | Learn more »
REMINDER: May 23 Online Event: The Haynie Site and the San Juan Basin Cotton Mystery
With Susie Smith. Recent pollen research from the western portion of the Haynie site (5MT1905) was completed as part of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center’s Northern Chaco Outliers Project. Two samples produced cotton pollen from early Pueblo Period room blocks which, in addition to being a first for the region, is one of the oldest dates for cotton botanical remains from the central Colorado Plateau. In this presentation, Susie reviews the archaeobotanical record of cotton, introduces cotton biology, and discusses some of the questions and issues surrounding the absence of cotton from the San Juan Basin. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | Learn more and register (free) »
REMINDER: May 30 Online Event: Listening Seriously for O’odham Heritage
With Brett Hill. In this talk, Dr. Hill will discuss his insights into the value of considering Native perspectives on heritage. Archaeologists have historically either ignored Native American perspectives on their own past or granted them alternative status irreconcilable with scientific archaeology. In his research on the ‘mysterious disappearance’ of the Hohokam, Dr. Hill has been struck by how much recent archaeological findings converge with what O’odham people have said for generations. This convergence does not necessarily represent an alternative, ideological view, but includes significant empirical insights that archaeologists have begun to productively incorporate into their own scientific understanding of the past. This advance has come in large part from listening more carefully and taking Native accounts seriously. But, listening carefully offers more than just insight into the past; it offers a view of heritage that includes the present and future. Crow Canyon Archaeological Center | Learn more and register (free) »
May 28 Online Workshop: How to Pitch: The First Step in Writing for Public Outlets
The first step in writing for many English-language general audience outlets is “the pitch”—a short proposal to editors about what you would like to write. Learning the pitch is itself an important skill that is a necessary and important step in public writing. In this workshop, you will have the chance to learn the ins-and-outs of pitching, draft a pitch, receive feedback, and discuss popular writing strategies. Join Chip Colwell, the editor-in-chief of SAPIENS magazine, to develop or deepen this vital practice for aspiring or seasoned public anthropologists alike. SAPIENS | Learn more and register (free) »
Chip Colwell serves on Archaeology Southwest’s Board of Directors.
June 8 In-Person Event (Scottsdale AZ): Mesquite Pancake Breakfast
The Huhugam Ki: Museum (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) invites the public to this free event where you can learn more about the mesquite pod, picking season, recipes, and more. 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., 10005 E. Osborn Rd (SE corner of Longmore & Osborn). Huhugam Ki: Museum | Learn more »
Remember to send us notice of upcoming webinars and Zoom lectures, tours and workshops, and anything else you’d like to share with the Friends. Thanks!