Recognizing multiple sovereignties: A starting point for Native American cultural resource consultation

ABSTRACT The practice of archaeology within the USA necessarily involves issues of sovereignty, multiple worldviews and colonialism. Archaeologists must acknowledge both the reality of colonialism's legacy as well as our role in either supporting or confronting that history, and consultation with indigenous communities is oftentimes the main (if not only) venue for interrogating this legacy. This article, written in a dialogic format, presents and explores the role of a government agency's consultation policy within this framework of colonialism and dual sovereignty. However, it also discusses the limitation of policies and identifies areas in which continued improvement is needed. This article provides insight into the issues that are in play within consultation, concerns that may not be expressed but nevertheless have an impact, and the broader issues that agency representatives must consider so that archaeologists may have a better understanding of the decisions made within consultation discussions.