Engaging Pacific Islander Veterans and Military Families in Difficult Heritage Discussions

Analysing the Contributions and Longevity of Community Archaeology in the Context of Maritime Cultural Heritage Projects

“…Understanding how the various contributions of community archaeology are made by all involved, whether positive or negative, will improve the wider discipline’s theories, methods, and practice (Guilfoyle and Hogg 2015 : 5; Heritage Lottery Fund 2019 ). Additionally, the dialogue required between involved parties to understand the methodology behind each contribution during the project, can improve the ongoing project’s content, design, and delivery, producing a more successful project (McKinnon et al 2019 : 5).…”

“…The National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent United States federal organization, funded War in the Pacific: A Difficult Heritage , https://cnmiheritage.wordpress.com ; a self-identified community archaeology project in Saipan. Other partners included East Carolina University (ECU), the Northern Marianas Humanities Council (NMHC), Veterans Affairs Office, and the Historic Preservation Office (CNMI Heritage 2019 ; McKinnon et al 2019 : 2). McKinnon, Ticknor and Froula identify this work as a community and indigenous archaeology project (McKinnon et al 2019 : 2).…”

“…Other partners included East Carolina University (ECU), the Northern Marianas Humanities Council (NMHC), Veterans Affairs Office, and the Historic Preservation Office (CNMI Heritage 2019 ; McKinnon et al 2019 : 2). McKinnon, Ticknor and Froula identify this work as a community and indigenous archaeology project (McKinnon et al 2019 : 2).…”

“…The trainees were largely self-selected or previously worked with McKinnon. Discussion Leaders completed a 1-week training program, conducted by the ECU Project Directors, to refine their skills in asking open-ended questions, listening without critique, and encouraging openness and trust (McKinnon et al 2019 : 5). The training prepared the Discussion Leaders to assist in leading the second engagement activity.…”

“…The program centred around the Spanish-Chamorro Wars of the seventeenth century and the WWII Battle of Saipan. These wars represent the ‘bookends to the history of resistance and aggression in the islands’ (McKinnon et al 2019 : 5). The first Discussion Program lasted one week.…”