Projects
Across professional and academic spaces, my current research focuses on:
- Indigenous in heritage and land management
- Federal policy and heritage practice
- Spatial analysis and data management
- Digital preservation methods
- Promoting preservation through education
- Community-centered and collaborative methods
Dissertation
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Heritage Landscapes and Shared Stewardship: exploring relational, community-focused approaches to Indigenous heritage management in public lands
Tribal and federal land ownership in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
How do US federal institutions care for Indigenous heritage on the lands they control? What power do Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and other cultural experts from Indigenous communities have in the process?
Through policy and analysis and in-depth interviews with tribal and federal heritage experts in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I seek to explore the complex relationships surrounding site stewardship from past to present. Famous for its scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, the UP serves as a broad study landscape encompassing sovereign Anishinaabe Nations, National Park properties, Forest Service and other federally-managed areas.
Informed by local experts and community members, the goal of this work is to demonstrate how management practice and policy can be reformed to center Indigenous and local community knowledge. Doing so creates opportunities to improve preservation, data management, and public education on Indigenous history and presence.
M.A. Project
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Sheltered in Place: risk assessment modeling and proposed heritage tourism actions in the Red River Gorge
Visibility of RRG terrain based on number of observable
points from high-use roads and trails
Example of rockshelter (non-cultural) in RRG
The loss of cultural material within a slowly deteriorating rockshelter is likely a familiar story for many working in Appalachia. Walls, floors, and overhangs erode from foot traffic. Surfaces are covered in graffiti while petroglyphs fade away. Artifacts are damaged or stolen, either intentionally or by lack of awareness. These activities threaten the physical integrity of cultural sites as well as the knowledge and memories they hold. This is the case across the Daniel Boone National Forest where hundreds of rockshelter sites are affected by looting, vandalism, and various recreation activities. Through a pilot study for my Masters research, I created a predictive model for assessing the risk of contemporary disturbance to rockshelter sites in the Red River Gorge based on contemporary human activity and travel routes.
Contracted Research
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Not-so-Set in Stone: a review of rock imagery digitization methods for community needs
Convenience sample survey representing rock imagery sites across the United States which professional archaeologists feel can be digitized for community benefit
Around the world, rock imagery sites present significant preservation challenges due to their physical vulnerability to natural weathering and human impacts. Various forms of digital recording and enhancement technologies are now frequently used to preserve features that will inevitably fade away. While these tools are both exciting and effective for cultural, educational, and research goals, their use must be considered carefully. Digitization may not always be the best or only solution when situated within systems of cultural values and traditional knowledge of Indigenous and local communities. Through technical and literature review, I hope to create a US-based guide to digitization as a service driven by Indigenous and local community knowledge and authority.