A Pathway to Reconciliation within ‘North American’ Archaeology

Abstract

As we begin to enter an era of reconciliation in archaeology, we must look at the foundation upon which the discipline has been built and start to dismantle the colonial ideologies which have been embedded within. A number of new practices and approaches have emerged over the past decade, through community and public based archaeology, placing the community at the forefront of the research. These newer approaches have set out to challenge the ways in which the discipline had been conducted previously, creating pathways forward for reconciliation. The following commentary is based on my experience as a student researcher and professional archaeologist over the past six years ─ experience which has been shaped by my identity and the lens it informs and which offers only one perspective towards the important and emerging narrative on reconciliation within archaeology.