Indigenous Week Keynote Presentation: Dr. Paulette Steeves
Un-erasing The Indigenous Paleolithic of Western Hemisphere (the Americas)
Indigenous archaeologies weave Indigenous voices, knowledge, and histories through Western archaeologies to reclaim and revive Indigenous histories and humanities erased and denied by Western archaeology. This is not an archaeology of resistance; it is an archaeology of reclaiming and revivance. Archaeologists often identify the Indigenous people of Turtle Island as Asians from Asia, a culture and country that did not exist in the deep past. Yet, in many Indigenous genesis histories, Indigenous people say they have been here since time immemorial. The traditional Western archaeological story argues that Indigenous people have been in the Western Hemisphere for 12-15 kya. Disconnecting Indigenous people from their ancient homelands and identities is ongoing in North American archaeology. I argue that Indigenous people have been in the Western Hemisphere for over 130 kya. Reclaiming and rewriting deep Indigenous history and relinking Indigenous people to their ancient homelands is a path to healing for Indigenous people. Understanding Indigenous people’s links to homelands in the deep past leads to decolonizing minds and hearts and informs and addresses racism and discrimination in contemporary populations.