Student Testimonials
2013 Pimu Catalina Island Field School Participants
"While some field schools focus solely on excavation, on Catalina we were given a thorough introduction and hands on experience in curation, survey, mapping, GPS and GIS technologies, as well as excavation experience. In addition, our lecturers included leaders and elders from within the native community as well as experts from adjacent disciplines such as ecology, botany and geomorphology, which helped us to understand how to best approach archaeology both practically, theoretically and ethically."
-Jeni Knack, Field School Student 2013
"The Pimu Catalina Island Field School will always have place in my heart. As an undergraduate student I was able to engage in the pragmatics of archaeological fieldwork while participating and learning within a rigorous theoretical framework. Further, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of archaeological practices embedded in the community and was inspired by the project directors’ teaching methods, ethics and enthusiasm, which I continue to strive towards in my own work. Any student with an open mind, strong back and interest in anthropology would be well served to apply to this program."
-Nathan Acebo, Field School Student 2012
"There really is no better place to hone your archaeological skills and gain practical experience in cultural resource management than Pimu (Catalina) Island. The island has it all when it comes to archaeological resources, from pre-historic through the historic period, and serves as the perfect learning laboratory. That combined with the emersion into the culture and history of the Tongva people that is woven through the program gave me the most well rounded experience one can have with a field school. I use the skills that I learned on Pimu everyday in my career in CRM and would recommend this program to anyone looking to learn the art of archaeology and have an amazing adventure!"
-Chuck Dickerson, Field School Student 2011
"Through its incorporation of Indigenous knowledge, the Pimu Catalina Island Archaeological Field School defines Tribal Archaeology and is guaranteed to make an impact on the political arena of Archaeology as a whole...I can honestly say, it is CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT at its finest"
-Jessica Valdez, Field School Student 2010
“I chose the Pimu Field School to gain a better understanding of my own interests as well as the CRM [cultural research management] laws in California. I . . . read and learned about CRM; but more importantly, I have heard first hand accounts of what it is like to work in CRM and the surrounding business.”
– Victoria Harding, Field School Student 2009
