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2019 AHS Awards: Request for Nominations
Do you know individuals and groups which have done a worthy project, made long-term contributions to local history, made historical materials better known, or written a book that has contributed to the understanding and preservation of Alaska’s history this past year? It is time to nominate these folks for recognition by the Alaska Historical Society with the annual awards it makes. The award categories are:
The Esther Billman Award of Excellence to a local or state historical society, museum, government agency, or other organization that has completed a project contributing to the preservation and understanding of Alaskan history.
The Evangeline Atwood Award to an individual for significant long-term contributions to Alaska state or local history.
The James H. Ducker Alaska Historian of the Year Award to an Alaska resident for publication of significant new material about Alaska’s past.
The Barbara Smith Pathfinder Award for indexing or preparing guides to Alaska historical material.
The Elva Scott Local Historical Society Award for a special achievement of a local society or museum.
The Contributions to Alaska History Award to recognize singular and significant recent contributions to Alaska history.
Nominations are due by Thursday, August 1, 2019. A nomination letter should describe the individual’s or the group’s contributions or detail the project to be recognized. Please include supporting material, such as a copy of the publication, guide, or photographs. Nominations should be sent to William Schneider, AHS Awards Committee Co-Chair, P.O. Box 100299, Anchorage, AK 99510, or submit by email to members@alaskahistoricalsociety.org.
For more information about AHS awards and a list of previous recipients, go to https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/about-ahs/awards/
Alaska Anthropological Association Anti-Harassment Policy
The Alaska Anthropological Association, in keeping with federal and state law and non-profit best practices, strives to maintain a professional environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. The Board of Directors has worked with legal counsel to draft an Anti-Harassment Policy for the Association. In keeping with the governing authority of the Board of Directors, the Alaska Anthropological Association Anti-Harassment Policy was approved and adopted by the Board on 6-12-19. This policy is effective forthwith and can be found at: https://www.alaskaanthropology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Anti-Harassment-Policy-2019-1.pdf
Spring 2019 AkAA Newsletter
The Spring 2019 Newsletter of the Alaska Anthropological Association is now available! Best wishes for a great season!
PEG Receives 2018 SAA Best Poster Award
The Alaska Anthropological Association Public Education Group (PEG), in partnership with other organizations, has received the 2018 Society for American Archaeology’s award for Best Archaeology Month Poster. The 2018 award winning poster features the 7,500 year old maritime history and culture of Ocean Bay, the ancestral homeland of today’s Alutiiq communities. This is the fifth consecutive year that Alaska has won the prestigious award. Congratulations!
Great Discoveries in Alaskan Archaeology
Join us Saturday, April 20 at the Morris Thompson Center for 10 minute talks by Alaskan archaeologists about some of the amazing finds they have made around the state. Free public lecture in the Auditorium and free kids craft in the lobby. 2-4:40 pm.
2-2:10 Introduction and seating
2:20-2:20 Dr. Ben Potter (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) Recent Discoveries at Upward Sun River
2:20-2:30 Brooks Lawler (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) Quarry Quandaries
2:30-2:40 Bob Sattler (Tanana Chiefs Conference) Calico Bluff Archaeology
2:40-2:50 Gerad Smith (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) An Ancient Footprint in the Tanana
2:50-3:00 Molly Proue (Department of Transportation and Public Facilites) Blowing Off Steam
3:00-3:10 Josh Lynch (Texas A&M University) Deadliest Weapons of Ice Age Beringia
3:10-3:20 Mike Kunz (Bureau of Land Management) The Mesa Site Revealed: Archaeology and Other Stuff
3:20-3:30 Jeff Rasic (National Park Service) Alaska’s Largest Artifact
3:30-3:40 Steve Lanford (Bureau of Land Management) Not Just another Rusty Can
3:40-3:50 Angela Gore (Texas A&M University) The Cutting Edge: Sourcing Early Stone Tools in the Nenana Valley
3:50-4:00 Caitlin Holloway (National Park Service) Lake Selby Caribou Cache Pit
4:00-4:10 Patricia Peirsol and Trish DeNardo Schmidt (Friends of the SS Nenana) SS Nenana Steamboat Accessories
4:10-4:20 Sam Coffman (University of Alaska Museum of the North) Where’d the Raft Go? The Fascinating Archaeology of the Katmai Region
4:20-4:30 Julie Esdale (Colorado State University) Lost Bag of Tools from the Brooks Range
Message from the AkAA Board of Directors
The Alaska Anthropological Association serves to build collaborations between researchers and communities, support best practices in the field of anthropology, and foster a culture of respect between professional colleagues and students within a safe and supportive environment. Based on the unethical behavior of Dr. David Yesner while employed at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and in line with a statement issued by UAA on 4/8/19, the Board of Directors for the Alaska Anthropological Association passed a unanimous motion on 4/10/19 to the following actions regarding Dr. Yesner:
1) The Professional Achievement Award presented by the Alaska Anthropological Association in 2014 is hereby revoked.
2) Membership in the Alaska Anthropological Association is prohibited.
3) Participation in the Annual Meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association and/or any events or activities sponsored or hosted by the Alaska Anthropological Association is prohibited.
Sincerely,
Alaska Anthropological Association Board of Directors
Amy Phillips-Chan, President
Morgan Blanchard, Vice-President
Joshua Lynch, Secretary
Phoebe Gilbert, Awards and Scholarships
Sam Coffman, Publications
Britteny Howell, External Affairs
AJA seeking Research Notes submissions
We are looking for contributions to the Recent Research Notes column in the Alaska Journal of Anthropology. These would be brief (1-3 paragraphs maximum) reports on upcoming, ongoing, or recently completed projects, new C-14 dates, or laboratory findings that might be of interest to the Arctic/subarctic research community. Authors can submit multiple notes if they have different subjects. Items already covered in the newsletter are appropriate, as AJA has a broader circulation, and exists in permanent hard copy in libraries.
Entries can be submitted at any time (while a project is fresh in your mind) and will be placed in the next column to be published after their submission.
We do not need precise site locations, client’s names, or any other data that can be considered protected or proprietary. It is understood that in some cases project sponsors need to review reports and give permission for such notes to be published. We understand that this may take some time, and will interpret “recent” liberally to accommodate such cases.
Submissions can be made to Anne Jensen (amjuics@gmail.com) who edits the column. Electronic submissions (in AJA style) are strongly preferred. The AJA Style Guide can be found here.
Please take note of the formatting of tables with C14 dates, as well as the preferred date formats. Best practices suggest including information on the probability distribution for calibrated dates.
Newsletter Editor Position
The Alaska Anthropology Association seeks a newsletter editor! The main responsibilities of the association’s newsletter editor are to solicit materials from members and researchers, edit, prepare, produce, and send out a quarterly newsletter to the association’s members. Interested parties should be aware that time preparing a single newsletter varies, but on average takes at least 8 hours to prepare. Additionally, it is advised that the interested party have access to Adobe InDesign and Acrobat. This is a fun and exciting way to be involved with the association!
If you have additional questions or are interested please send an email of interest to Sam (sccoffman@alaska.edu) by April 26, 2019.
2019 Museums Alaska Conference Proposals
Museums Alaska is currently recruiting session and workshop proposals for the upcoming 2019 conference to be held in Kodiak from September 25-28. The deadline for proposals is Sunday, April 7. Please consider sharing your voice! https://museumsalaska.org/Conference
Archaeological Technician – Seasonal
Historical Research Associates, Inc. (HRA) and Northern Land Use Research Alaska, LLC (NLURA) are seeking applicants to develop a qualified applicant pool of Archaeological Technicians for work in 2019 for our Portland, Eugene, Seattle, Spokane, and Missoula offices along with NLURA’s office located in Anchorage. Individuals interested in working for HRA/NLURA in 2019 will be selected only from this pool.
The Archaeological Technician – Seasonal performs archaeological field work, lab work, or related office work under the direction and supervision of a HRA/NLURA staff Archaeologist. Applicants approved for the pool must have (at minimum) a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology or Anthropology. Preferred applicants will have experience working in the field, conducting analysis of research data, and contributing to research reports. Required skills include the ability to effectively conduct research activities, conduct appropriate aspects of fieldwork using appropriate field techniques, develop and maintain positive relationships, the ability to balance work schedules and demands, provide and receive feedback, seek to resolve conflict through communication and collaboration, and use effective verbal and written communication to listen and communicate effectively. Applicants must be proficient in the use of computer programs and database systems and have familiarity with the operations and use of cameras, GPS, and GIS equipment and software. Candidates should assume that most of their working hours will be spent in the field.
Position will be open until close of business Tuesday. April 30. Positions are seasonal, and work is on-call, as needed. Acceptance into the qualified applicant pool is not a guarantee of a job offer or a guarantee of hours in 2019. Please submit a letter of interest and resume/CV to Human Resources at hr[at]hrassoc.com.