For the past two years SAR has promoted, engaged, and asserted individuals who are not Native posing as Indigenous, or misleading audiences they are American Indian. This damage is misrepresentation in American Indian scholarship, and lessons the ability for accurate histories. Many of us in the community have called to express concern, but the programming continues. Tribal peoples of the SW should be concerned with the allowance of access to their cultural items, what is being written about, and how this dismisses our own tribal scholars among our tribes. Mainly talking about the food sovereignty program, independent curator, and out of state museum (NYC) hires who have no tribal affiliation yet claim Indigenous. A distant ancestral title in parentheses does not equate identity, or authority to represent. SAR can be the change, this organization has a large reach across the field and academically, it’s unfortunate the programming takes them off path as a leading research center.

I thought the lecture on Chaco last Thursday was fairly low level for the audience. Most of the people there are aware of the points made by the lecturer. In short there was nothing new.

SARs public offerings to our Santa Fe community are first rate and I always leave their presentations or lectures knowing more about the condition of humanity - be it historical, political or cultural. Last weeks 1st annual Linda Cordell lecture, given by Dr. Ruth Van Dyke, is the latest example.

Simply an awesome school with strong connections to amazing artists! incredible clay pot collection. one of the most beautiful campuses Ive been to.

The audience was fairly sophisticated re Choco, and the presentation was too simplistic.

Great school! Wonderful research on the ancient Americas coming out of the SAR!