Crow Canyon 40th Anniversary Conference and Celebration
October 12 through 14, 2023 Cortez, Colorado (schedule subject to change)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
THURSDAY EVENING
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
Field Trips to Yellow Jacket Pueblo, Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Farm and Ranch, and Hawkins Preserve scheduled for morning and afternoon. Advanced Reservations Required
THURSDAY EVENING
Thursday Evening: Poetry reading, book signing, and reception with Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
TRACK 1
THE FUTURE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND CHANGING VALUES with Liz Perry. Engage in conversation with a panel of Indigenous scholars and archaeologists about the future direction of the archaeology discipline and changing values.
TRACK 2
MATERIAL CULTURE STATIONS with Jamie Merewether and Kate Hughes. Learn how archaeologists analyze and interpret the uses of artifacts like pottery, chipped-stone, animal bones, and tools recovered from Crow Canyon’s recent excavations at the Haynie site. View a variety of unusual artifacts uncovered from Haynie.
BREAK
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND AMERICAN INDIAN PARTNERSHIPS AT THE CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER with Susan Ryan. Celebrate the 2023 release of Research, Education, and American Indian Partnerships at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, a book edited by Susan C. Ryan and published by the University Press of Colorado. Hear summaries of select chapters, presented by Benjamin Bellorado, Jeffrey Jones, Susan Ryan, and Joseph Suina (Cochiti Pueblo).
DEMONSTRATION OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS with Indigenous artists.
LUNCH
HISTORY, LEGACY, & RESILIENCE OF PUEBLO CULTURES with Jon Ghahate (Laguna Pueblo and Zuni). Learn about the essence of Pueblo societies, hear about the origins of the term ‘Pueblo,’ and delve into the traditions, languages, and customs of Pueblo cultures.
PLANT WALK AND WILD FOOD TASTING with Kate Thompson. Join Ray Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) and Katrina Blair for cuisine demonstrations and a walkabout on campus to identify valuable plants used for food, medicine, and materials.
BREAK
NAAG PAST AND PRESENT ROUNDTABLE with Rebecca Hammond (Ute Mountain Ute) and Liz Perry. With past and current members of Crow Canyon’s Native American Advisory Group (NAAG), learn about the history of the group and its influence in shaping Crow Canyon’s archaeological and educational practices and policies.
ZOOARCHAEOLOGY SHOW AND TELL with Jonathan Dombrosky. Did you know that zooarchaeology is the dynamic study of human-animal interaction over time through the analysis of non-human bones, shells, and teeth? Discuss with Jon and colleagues how such material is identified, view fascinating specimens recovered from the Haynie site and discover what they tell us about past Pueblo life.
FRIDAY EVENING
Friday Evening: Dinner and featured speaker Lyla June Johnston (Diné and Cheyenne). Her message focuses on Indigenous rights, supporting youth, traditional land stewardship practices, and healing inter-generational and inter-cultural trauma.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14
TRACK 1
HISTORY OF CROW CANYON with Ricky Lightfoot. Join Ricky Lightfoot, Chair of the Board and Crow Canyon visionary since 1984, as he provides a look-back at the history of the organization and its many accomplishments, challenges and important contributions to the field of archaeology.
TRACK 2
FILM SCREENING: Join us for a film screening of Our Story | The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Mario Atencio (Diné) and others from the Greater Chaco Coalition. This film highlights how Diné and Pueblo people are directly impacted by oil and gas extraction in the Greater Chaco region and have been organizing for generations to protect the wellbeing of their communities, sacred sites, and the integrity of the landscape.
VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE (optional activity, glasses will be provided)
CURRENT EVENTS IN BEARS EARS: LANDSCAPES, POLICY, LAWS, AND RESEARCH with Ben Bellorado. Hear a panel of descendant community members, archaeologists, guides, legal experts, and federal land managers discuss a diversity of views about the challenges facing the Bears Ears National Monument, an important part of southeastern Utah.
MOBILE LEARNING LAB MODULES with Jeremy Grundvig. Tour the Mobile Learning Lab, a van that was remodeled with funds provided by our generous donors. Learn about the unique hands-on curricula that we take to schools unable to travel to Crow Canyon. Modules on display include the physics of throwing an atlatl, how to survey and map a site, archaeological ethics, Indigenous perspectives, and more.
LUNCH
PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND 3-D MODELING with Grant Coffey. See “up-close” how digital 3-D modeling is done as part of Crow Canyon’s research. Learn about recent LiDAR visualization, photogrammetry, and drone-based digital modeling. Discuss with Grant how non-invasive technology is used by archaeologists to better understand the complexities of a site.
TBD
BREAK
40th Anniversary Featured Speaker and Conference Closing with Liz Perry and Ricky Lightfoot.
SATURDAY EVENING
Saturday evening: Celebration on campus with music, Native American dancing, selection of southwestern and Indigenous foods, beer and wine, campfire on Lodge deck
