TORONTO, ON, May 12, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Lindsay M. Montgomery, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, is sparking critical conversations about the future of archaeology with the publication of her newest scholarly work. Her chapter, featured in the recently released volume Archaeology, Heritage, and Radical Populism, edited by Randall McGuire and Alfred Gonzalez-Ruibal boldly examines how liberal and populist discourses both converge in reinforcing existing structures of settler colonialism within archaeological practice.

A Critical Moment for the Discipline

Montgomery's chapter arrives at a crucial juncture in archaeology's ongoing reckoning with its colonial past and present. Across North America, the discipline has seen increasing efforts to confront its ties to racism, capitalism, and patriarchy. However, as Montgomery argues, many of these initiatives, though framed within the language of social justice and reconciliation, remain limited by their reliance on liberal values — values that ultimately struggle to dismantle the very systems they seek to reform.

"Archaeology, like many academic fields, has made significant strides toward inclusivity, but it remains entrenched in broader colonial structures," says Montgomery. "Without critically examining how liberal ideals themselves are implicated in upholding settler colonialism, true transformation will remain elusive."

The Populist Counter-Current

Drawing from case studies across academia and cultural heritage management Montgomery examines the growing influence of conservative populist discourse within heritage spaces. She points out that efforts to decolonize archaeology and heritage practices are increasingly being met with populist backlash, often couched in rhetoric about preserving tradition, protecting individual freedoms, and resisting so-called 'identity politics.'

"Conservative populism reframes necessary reforms as attacks on heritage and national identity," she explains. "This reactionary stance seeks to defend exclusionary narratives and further marginalize communities demanding justice."

Montgomery highlights examples from museum controversies, public debates about historical monuments, and challenges to curriculum reform initiatives, demonstrating how right-wing populism mobilizes fear and resentment to resist decolonization.

Liberalism's Promises — and Shortcomings

Alongside this critique of populist politics, Montgomery reflects on the discipline's frequent reliance on liberal principles such as multi-vocality and incremental change. These principles, she argues, often prioritize procedural fairness over substantive justice, creating the illusion of change while leaving colonial hierarchies intact.

She notes that liberal frameworks tend to favour consensus-building over confrontation, leading to reforms that silence or dilute marginalized voices under the guise of inclusion. "When institutions prioritize 'balance' or 'neutrality,' they often end up protecting the status quo," Montgomery writes. "In this way, even well-meaning institutional initiatives can have the unintended effect of reinforcing anti-Blackness and Indigenous disempowerment."

A Call for an Engaged and Abolitionist Archaeology

Rather than retreat into academic neutrality, Montgomery calls for a more radically engaged archaeology — one grounded in anti-colonialism and abolitionist practice. She argues that meaningful transformation requires more than reform; it demands a dismantling of existing systems of power and the creation of new structures led by Black, Indigenous, and other historically oppressed communities.

This approach, she contends, involves moving beyond token representation or consultation models and toward relationships rooted in trust, reciprocity, and community-defined priorities.
"Archaeologists must be willing to cede power, not just share it," Montgomery insists. "We must recognize that many communities have their own systems of knowledge, memory, and stewardship that have been ignored or suppressed for centuries."

Reshaping Heritage Practices

Montgomery's work also offers tangible pathways forward for institutions, practitioners, and scholars. She advocates for reallocating resources to community-led and engaged initiatives, supporting land return efforts, and critically reassessing the very foundations of heritage management.

Importantly, she emphasizes that this work is not about "inclusion" into existing colonial frameworks but about fundamentally rethinking what heritage, stewardship, and historical memory can mean outside those systems.

"We need to ask: Who gets to define what counts as heritage? Who benefits from current heritage practices, and who is harmed?" Montgomery writes. "Answering these questions requires deep humility and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths."

Early Impact and Scholarly Reception

Montgomery's contribution to Archaeology, Heritage, and Radical Populism has already generated substantial interest among scholars and practitioners alike. Many have praised her for offering an unflinching analysis of archaeology's complicity in upholding colonial power, as well as a hopeful vision for its potential transformation.

"Dr. Montgomery's work is essential reading for anyone serious about decolonizing the discipline," commented one university colleague. "She challenges us not to simply tinker with existing models but to reimagine the field from the ground up."

Heritage and the Broader Political Landscape

Montgomery's chapter is particularly timely given the broader cultural and political context. Across North America and beyond, debates about history, identity, and memory have become flashpoints in larger struggles over democracy, citizenship, and national belonging. Heritage spaces — museums, historic sites, public monuments — arecontested terrains where competing visions of the past and future collide.

"In this volatile landscape, heritage work cannot pretend to be neutral," Montgomery argues. "It is inherently political. The question is whether we will use it to entrench injustice or to support liberation."

Bridging Academia and Activism

Montgomery's scholarship is notable for the way it bridges academic inquiry and grassroots activism. In addition to her published research, she has been involved in community collaborations focused on Indigenous sovereignty, reparative justice, and decolonizing public history. Her work consistently prioritizes the leadership and vision of the communities most affected by colonial violence.

She also regularly mentors' students and early-career scholars seeking to navigate questions of ethics, activism, and community engagement within archaeology and anthropology.

"Students are eager for models of scholarship that are intellectually rigorous and socially committed," she says. "Part of my role as an educator is to help them imagine how their work can contribute to broader movements for justice."

Looking Ahead: New Possibilities for the Field

As Montgomery continues her research and community partnerships, she remains optimistic about the possibilities for archaeology's future — if the discipline is willing to confront its contradictions and commit to deep structural change.

"Archaeology has a unique potential to be a tool for healing and empowerment," she concludes. "But realizing that potential requires more than words. It requires action — bold, uncomfortable, and sustained."

Through her work, Montgomery is helping to chart a course for a more accountable archaeology — one that does not shy away from hard questions but embraces them as opportunities for growth and transformation.

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