Who Owns the Past? North American Perspectives on the Appropriation of Archaeological Heritage

  • Christian Gates St-Pierre Département d’anthropologie, Université de Montréal
Keywords: archeology, Canada, Quebec, Montreal, aboriginals, decolonisation, heritage, policy
Language(s): French

Abstract

Prehistoric archeology in North America is driven by a process of decolonization that forces us to question and redefine its practices, as well as its links with Aboriginal communities and their archaeological heritage. No longer having the monopoly of discourse on this heritage, archaeologists are developing new approaches that are more collaborative, multivocal and socially relevant. The question of appropriating the past remains problematic, however, as it is subject to debates opposing sociopolitical and interpretative positions that are sometimes difficult to reconcile. This article provides a brief overview of the situation and the resulting ethical challenges, illustrated by a contemporary case study located in Montreal.

Published
2019-11-27
How to Cite
[1]
Gates St-Pierre C. Who Owns the Past? North American Perspectives on the Appropriation of Archaeological Heritage. Can. J. Bioeth. 2019;2:17-25. https://doi.org/10.7202/1066459ar.