Society for the Anthropology of North America

Volunteered - Oral Presentation Session

Pyroepistomology and Changing Climates in American Archaeology: Acknowledging the Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere (the Americas)

Americas, Archaeology, Decolonization

Presenter(s)

• Ps

  Paulette steeves

  Canada Research Chair Tier II Indigenous History Healing and Reconciliation
  Algoma University

Archaeological discussions of the deep (Pleistocene) Indigenous past of the Western Hemisphere, (the Americas) are very problematic. Many have been argued to be based on conjecture, not fact. In the Western Hemisphere, the Indigenous Paleolithic has been aggressively denied for over a century. Anthropologist’s denial have cleaved First People’s links to their homeland and created them as recent immigrants to the Americas. Yet, in many oral traditions, Indigenous peoples say that they have been here forever, since time immemorial. In consideration of a group of first people whose distinct identities, culture, and traditions grew from their relationship to their homelands, it could be said they have been here forever. Archaeologists discuss First Peoples of the Western Hemisphere as The Clovis People, however, the only place a pan-hemispheric cultural group, The Clovis People ever existed was in the wildest imagination of the archaeological mind. At the same time, many archaeologists have spent their lives working to disprove the Clovis First hypothesis, and to provide evidence of a much deeper time for First People. Recent discussions on the American Paleolithic signal a changing climate in American archaeology regarding the deep Indigenous past. Framed in Pyroepistomology, Indigenous Method and Theory, and Indigenous archaeology this discussion weaves paths to reviving, reclaiming, and respecting Indigenous histories and deep links to the land. Bringing just one flame of many to fires of healing and reconciliation.