Who Am I?

I am a member of the Burns Paiute Tribe which is one of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. I began working as an archaeological technician in 1988 for the US Forest Service. Archaeology immediately became my passion. My tribe as well as others in the Great Basin Region have been under "political attack" for many years and our indigenous rights have been brought into question. Currently, anthropology plays a great role in determining the final dispositions in political issues associated with indigenous ancestral land claims, Native American tribal federal recognition, and repatriation of Native American human remains to federally recognized Native American groups. In my opinion, involving Native Americans in the field of archaeology will foster an environment of mutual respect and cooperation between indigenous groups and anthropologists. Through involvement in archaeological research and cultural resource management, we as Native peoples can assist in the strengthening of laws that will protect our peoples past, present, and future. I began my undergraduate studies in 1997 and I am currently a graduate student in the departments of Anthropology and Philosophy at the University of Oregon. My primary archaeological research focus is the Great Basin region of the Western United States and I am very interested in the "Numic Expansion" hypothesis (see links below). I am currently focussing my attention on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act process including the federal legislation's efficacy and its repercussions both to Native American communities and to the discipline of anthropology. My broader anthropological and philosophical interests include the historical and contemporary socio-political dynamics of the indigenous peoples of North America, indigenous epistemologies, philosophy of law, and ethics.