This spring the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will hold its third annual virtual speaker series featuring Native scholars and leaders. The Intersections of Indigenous Knowledge and Archaeology series is intended to center Indigenous voices in the archaeological discipline, increase awareness of and appreciation for the deep Native histories of the Eastern Woodlands and North America more broadly and amplify the experiences and research of Indigenous scholars, leaders, experts and artists.
This spring’s featured speakers work with archaeological methods or technologies to address contemporary Indigenous issues.The speakers are:
- Steve DeRoy, Anishinaabe/Saulteaux, member of the Ebb and Flow First Nation from Manitoba, and founder of the Indigenous Mapping Workshop and director of The Firelight Group
- Ashleigh Thompson, member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, director of the Tribal Collaboration Initiative for Archaeology Southwest, and University of Arizona Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Anthropology
- Marsha Small, member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Montana State University Ph.D. candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program
These virtual seminars are open to all and are sure to be of particular interest to students, professionals and the public interested in archaeology, anthropology, history, historic preservation, museum studies, art and issues facing Tribal Nations today.
This event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (OVCDEI).
To request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact Erin Benson at ebensn@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
2023 Seminar Schedule
March 27, 3 p.m. CST: Steve DeRoy is the founder of the Indigenous Mapping Workshop and director of The Firelight Group. The Indigenous Mapping Collective is a virtual space for mappers to share knowledge and receive training on GIS, mapping, and other digital technologies. The Collective emphasizes the importance of mapping to support Indigenous rights, decolonization efforts, and Indigenous storytelling.
Register here*
April 17, 3 p.m. CST: Ashleigh Thompson's research centers on Indigenous voices to address topics such as food sovereignty, health and wellness, environmental movements, and Indigenous land protections.
Register here*
May 8, 3 p.m. CST: Marsha Small is an expert in ground-penetrating radar, which she uses to locate unmarked graves of Indigenous children at boarding schools. Small has conducted this work at several schools and is currently involved with the Red Cloud Truth and Healing Initiative at Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota. Note: This talk will not be recorded.
Register here*
*You will receive confirmation and a link to join the virtual seminar after you register.
—
Miss the 2021 and 2022 speaker series? Click here to view the recorded lectures!