Dr. Deanna Kingston
Department of Anthropology
Associate Professor
220 Waldo Hall
541-737-3854
Email: Deanna Kingston
| Ph.D. | Anthropology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1999 |
| M.A.I.S. | Anthropology, Oregon State University, 1993 |
| B.S. | Science Communications, University of Portland, 1986 |
Teaching
I believe that my most important job is to teach students important concepts, and show how they relate to their everyday experiences. Rather than give a straight lecture, I encourage students to discuss class readings and films during class. Also, I try to give students the opportunity to practice their writing skills. I have taught classes at several institutions, including Oregon State, Eastern Connecticut State, American University, George Washington University, and University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Courses taught
- Anth 110 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- Anth 311 - Peoples of North America
- Anth 370 - Family, Gender and Generation
- Anth 380 - Cultures in Conflict
- Anth 420 - World Ethnography
- Anth 452/552 - Popular Narrative and Verbal Arts
- Anth 472/572 - Contemporary Indian Issues
- Anth 481/581 - Natural Resources and Community Values
- Anth 490/590 - Topics: Documenting Cultures Through Time (Methods of Ethnohistory)
- Anth 490/590 - Topics: Native Peoples of Canada
- Anth 490/590 - Topics: Symbolism of Religion and Art
- Anth 490/590 - Topics: Circumpolar Peoples
- Anth 498/598 - Topics: Oral Traditions
- Anth 595 - Research Design
Research
Topically, I am interested in folklore, oral traditions, ethnohistory, symbolic anthropology, and visual anthropology. Geographically, I concentrate on Native Peoples of North America and more specifically on the King Island Inupiat. In my research, I feel strongly that the King Islanders, and other indigenous peoples, have a say, not only in the research I conduct, but also in how it is accessed, used, and published. If and when I have the opportunity to work with other Native American groups, I want them to understand that I am a tool available to help them in what they want to do, and am not there to dictate the course of research.
Indigenous-State Relations in Alaska and Beyond: Sustainable Livelihoods, Biocultural Diversity and Health since the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
In September 2007, the National Science Foundation Arctic Social Science Program funded this three-year project under grant #OPP-0715461. The purpose of the project will be to analyze how the creation of Alaska Native business corporations (funded under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971) transformed institutional arrangements between Alaska Natives, state governments, ecosystems, and regional-global economies, and how these corporations have contributed to particular outcomes in indigenous groups' biocultural health as measured by the sustainable livelihood assessment model. Kingston will research the Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) and will work with Tom Thornton (Portland State University) and Rosita Worl (Sealaska Corporation) to compare BSNC with Sealaska.
Documenting the Cultural Geography, Biogeography, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of King Island, Alaska
This project was funded by the National Science Foundation Arctic Social Sciences Program under grant #OPP-0328234. We hope to understand how King Islanders conceive of and relate to the island as a cultural place by documenting placenames, subsistence & archaeological sites. If you would like more information see our site, or check out the photo gallery here.
Northwest Iñupiaq Dancers
Off and on since 1991, I have been a member of my uncle's dance group, the Northwest Iñupiaq Dancers. My participation in this group was the basis of my master's thesis research and my interest in dance continued through my dissertation research. I get the opportunity to dance a few times per year.