Introduction

Indigenous archaeology is an expression of archaeological theory and practice in which the discipline intersects with Indigenous values, knowledge, practices, ethics, and sensibilities, and through collaborative and community-originated or -directed projects and related critical perspectives. Indigenous archaeology seeks to make archaeology more representative of, responsible to, and relevant for Indigenous communities. The benefits of Indigenous archaeology are proving to be substantial in many different ways. For some individuals and communities, what is most rewarding is a renewed connection with their own history, and repair of connections to the past that had been severed by colonialism. There are not only new educational opportunities for Indigenous students at all levels, but an increasing number of Indigenous scholars and educators now available to train them. For some archaeologists, Indigenous archaeology is viewed as an exercise in political correctness or a challenge to science and rational thought.