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ERIC Number: EJ750462
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0095-182X
EISSN: N/A
Navajo Archaeologist Is Not an Oxymoron: A Tribal Archaeologist's Experience
Two Bears, Davina R.
American Indian Quarterly, v30 n3-4 p381-387 Sum-Fall 2006
Many Navajos, or Dines, and Native American people in general, are archaeologists or are becoming archaeologists. The distinction between "Native Americans" and "archaeologists" in academia, or elsewhere, is no longer accurate. This fact should not come as such a surprise. As the epigraph, a quote by Richard Begay, demonstrates, Navajo people, for instance, have been caring for "archaeological sites" for hundreds of years as part of their cultural teachings. Although places of ancient human occupation in North America may be considered just another archaeological site to the majority, to Native Americans, these places may often be sacred, revered as the final resting place of one's ancestors, or feature paramount in family and tribal history or religion. Therefore, the leap to becoming an archaeologist is in keeping with Navajo culture, that is, in keeping with respect and protection of Navajo ancestors, the ancestors of other Native American tribes, and Navajo sacred or traditional cultural places. Seen in this light, the phenomena of Navajos becoming archaeologists is not so outlandish, and a Navajo archaeologist is not an oxymoron. This article explores the author's experiences in working for a Navajo tribal archeology program. (Contains 6 notes.)
University of Nebraska Press. 1111 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0630. Tel: 800-755-1105; Fax: 800-526-2617; e-mail: presswebmail@unl.edu; Web site: http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/catalog/categoryinfo.aspx?cid=163
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North America
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A