“Lessons in Food Sovereignty from White-Tailed Deer and Wampum in 17th Century New England” with Elic Weitzel

Analysis of deer and quahog remains from archaeological sites in Southern New England suggests that European colonialism and capitalism inspired unprecedented harvest pressure on these species, despite the human population of the region being smaller than almost ever before. The cause of this overexploitation was therefore not demographic pressure, but the commodification of deer and quahog within a novel capitalist economy. Join Elic M. Weitzel, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at the University of Connecticut who specializes in human ecology and anthropology, along with IAIS Staff, for a presentation and discussion on how this research demonstrates that the pre-colonial Indigenous subsistence system – characterized by more communal resource rights and deliberate ecosystem engineering – appears to have been more sustainable. According to Weitzel, these results corroborate traditional and Indigenous ecological knowledge asserting that food sovereignty can permit long-term sustainable resource use. 

This presentation is the third in the Institute for American Indian Studies Annual Native American-Archaeology Roundtable series. This ongoing series seeks to explore ecological ties, past and present, through the sharing of new technologies, new findings, and new analyses that help bring Indigenous communities into greater focus. 

Please register online in order to receive a Zoom link. Questions? Please call (860) 868-0518 or email [email protected]. Price of participation: Free for IAIS and LHAC Members; $10 for Non-Members. Support for this program has been provided by the Jane Goodall Center at Western Connecticut State University. 

Questions?