The Future of Archaeology is Indigenous | John Torres | TEDxMSJC

New California legislation has completely altered the ways in which tribes interact with City, County and State Agencies, when it comes to tribal cultural resources. California tribal members are now at the table from the beginning of development projects to the end. I think it is time for tribal People to manage the entire process of protecting tribal cultural resources from planning, mitigation, interpretation, and curation, all while interpreting these resources through an Indigenous lens. After all it is their ancestors that made and used these resources. The future of archaeology is Indigenous. John A. Torres has been a professional anthropologist and archaeologist for over 30 years. The bulk of his research has been in Southern California, the Great Basin, and the American Southwest. Professor Torres is of Chicano and Navajo descent and is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Since his return to Southern California in 2014 he has been teaching in the Inland Empire and is currently full-time Associate Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Archaeology at Mt. San Jacinto College. He is also the Tribal Archaeologist for the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians: Kizh Nation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx