A DIFFERENT WEIGHT: TENSION AND PROMISE IN “INDIGENOUS ANTHROPOLOGY”

Authors

Fa‘anofo Lisaclaire Uperesa, Department of Anthropology, Columbia University

Abstract

This article offers a personal reflection on indigenous anthropology through the lens of the author's upbringing and research experiences in American Samoa. Grounded in the complexities of aiga (kinship) and layered genealogies, the work explores how biographical and cultural ties shape research ethics, methods, and accountability when conducting fieldwork at "home." By drawing on her position as a Native Pacific Islander and scholar, the author highlights the transformative possibilities of indigenous knowledge production and the responsibilities of researching within one’s own community.

Recommended Citation

Uperesa, Fa‘anofo Lisaclaire (2010) "A DIFFERENT WEIGHT: TENSION AND PROMISE IN “INDIGENOUS ANTHROPOLOGY”," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 33: No. 2, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol33/iss2/7