The Department of History and Anthropology at the Catholic University of America presents...

Sam Holley-Kline, University of Maryland

Totonac Labor in the Shadow of El Tajín

How does a landscape of pre-Hispanic mounds become an archaeological site? In the case of El Tajín, Mexico, the answer is "with more than a century of Indigenous labor." Totonac workers played crucial roles in excavating, reconstructing, and guarding the archaeological site since the 1920s, but are typically excluded from written accounts and overlooked in favor of the site's ancient past. This presentation centers Totonac narratives to reconsider the history of El Tajín, and draws out the implications of this analysis for sites elsewhere.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 5:00 pm

CUA McGivney Hall, Room 106

This is an in-person event with a catered reception following the talk

SUPPORTED BY THE REGINA FLANNERY HERZFELD MEMORIAL FUND

I want encourage you to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge on peace and conflict resolution that will be shared through online panels during the Carter School for Peace and COnflict Resolution (George Mason University) Fall 2025 Peace Week September 22-26. The theme on Bridging Peacebuilding, Development, and Security. There are also a few in person events at the Arlington and Fairfax campuses. All events are free. Here is the link to the program. Click on specific events to register for them. Please consider signing up for the talk sponsored by my District Peace Committee featuring networks for peace supporting women in conflict affected areas in Columbia on Thursday evening at 7pm.

Carter School Peace Week

https://carterschool.gmu.edu/news-events/carter-school-peace-week/fall-2025-peace-week

All the best,

Mari H. Clarke

Past President and Past Praxis Chair WAPA

Join the Medical Anthropology Student Association on September 19 th at 2pm EST for a webinar to help graduate students and early career anthropologists understand and navigate the shifting job market within (and adjacent to) medical anthropology. Participants will hear from 3 panelists to build concrete job-seeking skills, including how to:

• identify and search for open positions
• identify and distinguish between several job types within academia
• prepare a good CV
• understand and prepare the documents required for academic job applications
• prepare for interviews and campus visits

Panelists:

• Dr. Aalyia Sadruddin, Assistant Professor, Wellesley College
• Dr. Jessica Hardin, Associate Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology and SMA Mentorship Liaison
• Dr. Sarah Lamb, Professor, Brandeis University

Date: September 19 th , 2025
Time: 2-3:30pm EST
Registration Link:  https://brandeis.zoom.us/meeting/register/drXkNL61RE-aUIva-YLGAw

For questions, contact Yesmar Oyarzun, MASA Liaison at yesmaroyarzun@brandeis.edu

Come and see the Sherpas at the fabulous outdoor music/porch festival called Woodmoorstock this Saturday, June 8, right here in Silver Spring! The Sherpas are headlined by WAPA's president and longtime member, Mark Edberg.  Bring friends!  We will be on the Lexington Central stage (202 Lexington Drive) from 2:15-3:15. Click here for full details, including a map and festival lineup. See ya' there.

Given the concern of many anthropologists about ways to bring about peace and reduce conflict globally, the various presentations during the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (George Mason University) Peace week are likely to be of interest to you. Most are online events, A few are in person at the Arlington Va. campus. On Thursday March 28 at 10:30 am there is an online panel discussing progress made in the Rotary-Carter School Partnership for Peace which was the vision of my late husband David Fishman. Here is the link to identify the sessions for which you want to sign up : https://carterschool.gmu.edu/news-events/carter-school-peace-week

The Pre-Columbian Society of Washington’s annual symposium is holding its annual symposium on Saturday, September 23, from 9:30-5:30 pm.  This year, the theme is:  “The Time They Are A-Changin’: The Terminal and Postclassic Maya of Belize.” For more information and/or to register go to the Pre-Columbian Society’s website (pcswdc.org).

WAPA members Adam Koons (FEMA), Matt Stoffer, and Erik Kjeldgaard (GAO), along with John Villecco (GAO/University of Illinois, Chicago), Garry Cantley (BIA) and Eirik Thorsgaard (BIA), will be part of a NAPA-sponsored virtual panel discussion on "The U.S. Federal Government as a Career Path for Anthropologists," at the Society for Applied Anthropology meetings on Friday, March 25 from 9:00-10:45 AM mountain time.

The group will discuss the opportunities and challenges in pursuing a career as a practicing anthropologist in the U.S. federal government. They will discuss  challenges with the transition to government, ways they have made contributions and influenced policy, challenges they have faced and solutions they have identified, among other things.

XII ANNUAL REGINA FLANNERY HERZFELD SYMPOSIUM ON THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF NATIVE AMERICANS

The Department of Anthropology at the Catholic University of America presents

Michael Wilcox, Stanford University

"Reversing the Terminal Narrative: Reframing Disease, Community Health and Pandemics Among Native Peoples in the Wake of COVID”

This talk explores the ways in which historians, anthropologists and archaeologists have conceptualized disease among Indigenous communities as a deterministic force of colonization and conquest. It raises questions about the role of disease as a biologically neutral agent of conquest to explain how Native communities have responded to the most recent global pandemic.

Friday, April 23, 2021 at 4:00 pm

This event will be delivered virtually to both an in-person audience in Maloney 203, and a virtual audience over Zoom. Please register here to indicate how you prefer to attend. A zoom link will be sent to all virtual participants the day before the event.

SUPPORTED BY THE REGINA FLANNERY HERZFELD MEMORIAL FUND

A free film festival with films mostly about indigenous peoples from around the world.  Check it out at https://mothertongue.si.edu/