In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by Aaron Brien (Apsáalooke), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Crow Tribe, for a powerful conversation on history, memory, and responsibility. Grounded in Aaron’s experiences growing up with Crow oral traditions, the discussion explores how storytelling serves as a living practice, one that maintains relationships across generations and keeps the past present.
Aaron reflects on how memory and identity are carried through stories shared by his grandmothers and community, emphasizing that these narratives are not simply about the past, but are central to cultural continuity and the Crow worldview. The conversation then turns to his role as a Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, where these same values guide how cultural heritage is protected, interpreted, and passed forward.
The episode also looks ahead to the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, considering what remembrance, responsibility, and representation mean from a Crow perspective. Together, these themes highlight the importance of Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and storytelling in shaping both the past and the future.
Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/39
Links
The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio
Contact
Instagram: @pawnee_archaeologist
Email:
[email protected]APN
APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
APN Shop
Affiliates
Motion
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Colombia