Rethinking Hewett: Through the Eyes of Indigenous Archaeologists Today

Presented by: School for Advanced Research and New Mexico History Museum
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM MDT
Location: School for Advanced Research, 660 Garcia Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Admission: Free | No refunds
Series: Rethinking Hewitt (co-presented by SAR and NMHM)

About the Talk:

Joseph “Woody” Aguilar (San Ildefonso Pueblo) reexamines the legacy of Edgar Lee Hewett—the influential founder of the Museum of New Mexico and the School of American Archaeology—through the perspectives of contemporary Indigenous archaeologists.

Aguilar explores the complexities of Hewett’s relationships with Native communities and his role in shaping the Southwest’s cultural narrative. While acknowledging Hewett’s contributions to preservation and scholarship, he also highlights the limitations and biases of his era. The talk invites reflection on how modern archaeological ethics and Indigenous voices continue to reinterpret and reclaim this shared history.

About the Speaker:

Joseph Aguilar is an enrolled member of San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. He serves as an archaeologist with Bering Straits Native Corporation and as Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for San Ildefonso. He earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania.

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