https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/native-american-archaeology/
I found this articles discussion very interesting in its approach towards Native American peoples and their feeling towards the field of archaeology in North America. How instead of assuming opinions of Indigenous people from a general sense the author, Charles Riggs, gives examples from his own personal experiences. When a student asks him “Why do archaeologists think they have the right to tell me about my own history?” (Riggs) he willingly admits that his response was probably inadequate.
In places like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece the history of the area is preserved, artifacts are placed in museums while for the most part still honoring the wishes of the country of origin. Where as the archaeological community and government in America treat Indigenous populations and their history as secondary, “the dominant culture largely viewed Native Americans as subhuman, to be objectified and eradicated.” (Riggs)
I feel like when people begin to question the already uneasy relationship between archaeologists and Native Americans people frequently become more defensive and more likely to close off any discussion on the topic. This in turn stunts the positive aspects that the theory of Indigenous archaeology tries to work towards, such as conservation of Indigenous land, identity and ownership. An example of this in the test was the accusation that he [Riggs] was a grave robber. He admits that he was personally not guilty of this, by doing this he ignores the historical tension between the two groups, shifting the blame.
The article did a good job in bringing up highly publicized issues that covered headlines in international news such as the protests over the Dakota Access pipeline in 2016. The example of the Dakota Access pipeline exemplifies how native groups in the past as well as the present struggle to obtain rights and protect their cultural past. During the development of the field, archaeology for the most part exists outside or separate from the people whom they study. Acting as if the work they do is non-threatening towards less dominant groups. The article acknowledges how we have to listen to indigenous groups opinions regarding their heritages using them as a means to an end of study.