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Society for California Archaeology Conference
by tolowadeeni
Dee-ni' Nuu-wee-ya'
Dvn-chi’ Num-nii~-ma~s (April) 2022 - Volume 29, Issue 4
Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation THPO staff recently traveled to this year's Society for California Archaeology (SCA) Conference, Archaeological Gatherings: Foodways & Community Resilience. The field of archaeology has traditionally been dominated by non-native professionals interpreting Indigenous history. This trend is slowly changing in response to tribal nations persistent message that we are capable and responsible for telling our own histories; and this year the SCA conference showed initial signs of recognizing the intellectual knowledge and continued active presence of Indigenous communities. This was demonstrated by the growing presence of Indigenous people participating in the conference, the collaboration between the SCA and the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation to design this year's conference poster, and awards presented to Indigenous people recognizing their work in cultural resources preservation. The Nation's staff and citizens collaborated on the design of this year's conference poster to tell our own story, and demonstrate how the Tolowa Dee-ni' exemplify foodways and community resilience through active Indigenous stewardship, "Our Taalaa-waa-dvn (aboriginal territory) encompasses over 100 miles of coastal shoreline and approximately 2.87 million square acres of land and an undefined acreage of marine waters in northern California and southern Oregon. Since genesis, we have been an integral part of the ecosystem. Fishing, hunting, trapping, gathering and other forms of harvesting are central to our subsistence, cultural and religious existence.
Lhvmsr Xwee-ghatlh-ghelh-dvn (Fish Camps) are located along coastal traditional cultural landscapes, where we continue these practices, undeterred by more than 169 years of colonialism. Camps are hubs for intergenerational knowledge transmission of subsistence practices, culinary techniques (fishing, drying, cooking, preserving), physical and spiritual wellness, and for reaffirming our connections to the land. Today the foundation and philosophy of our Nation's conservation efforts are based on principles outlined in our account of genesis, passed down orally over countless generations, and reflected in the Tolowa Dee-ni' Harvest Title, applied and inter- Suntayea Steinruck, Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, preted according to traditional laws and receives President's Award customs. Traditional knowledge, best available science, and an adaptive approach informs stewardship and conservation efforts. Efforts focus on preservation of cultural traditions, resiliency, food sovereignty, sustainability, wellness and broader cultural and natural resources stewardship accomplished through partnerships with Indigenous communities, educational institutions, Federal, State and local agencies. This purposeful behavior and collective knowledge informs policy while maintaining a resilient and adaptive community, as the first stewards of our Taa-laa-waa-dvn." Three notable awards presented by SCA this year included: the California Indian Heritage Preservation Award, presented to the Honorable Ron W. Goode, North Fork Mono Tribe, for more than 60 years of active cultural resource preservation; the Society for California Archaeology Award for Excellence in Cultural Resources Management, presented to the California Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (CATHPO); and the President's Award, presented to Suntayea Steinruck, Tolowa
Dee-ni' Nation. Suntayea Steinruck served as the longest standing THPO for our Nation. She was pivotal in bridging the gap between Indigenous communities and the world of academia.
Suntayea was a founder and leader of the CATHPO, serving as a pioneer in cultural resource management for Indigenous people. During the presentation of her award the SCA had the following to say, " ...Suntayea is not afraid to have tough conversations with a big smile on her face, she is not afraid to tell you how it is, in a delightful way. Suntayea shared the message that there is a bigger picture than just the site..." We are proud to share these accomplishments, though they may seem small, they are powerful, successful representations of the continued efforts of the generations that have come before us, our collective knowledge and perseverance as a thriving
CATHPO's receive Award for Excellence in Cultural Resources Management
Indigenous community. https://sfca.wildapricot.org/2022-Archaeology-Poster Submitted by Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office
