Nathan Acebo

Nathan Acebo is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAISI) at the University of Connecticut. His research focuses on Indigenous Archaeology through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), examining how Indigenous knowledges and practices resist colonialism and foster autonomy. He collaborates with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities in North America and Oceania, employing methodologies like geochemical archaeometry and digital ethnography. Acebo leads the UConn Community-Based Digital Heritage Lab and is involved in repatriation efforts.

• Education: Ph.D., Stanford University (2020)

Research Interests: His work bridges material sciences and Indigenous studies, addressing anti-colonial resistance, New Materialist frameworks, and decolonial epistemology. He investigates how Indigenous governance and cultural revitalization persist across pre- and post-colonial contexts in California, New England, and Hawaiʻi.

Publications: Recent works explore Indigenous land claims beyond missions, decolonial knowledge asymmetry, and material analyses of colonial fragmentation. His research emphasizes collaboration with Indigenous communities to reclaim heritage and challenge colonial narratives.

• Awards: Mellon Foundation Faculty of Color Working Group Fellow (2022–2023)

Grants & Leadership: Supported by NSF, Mellon, and NEH grants, Acebo develops programs linking Indigenous knowledge systems with academic training. His leadership roles include editorial positions at California Archaeology and directing UConn’s heritage initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Pioneers ethical stewardship through the Community-Based Digital Heritage Lab, advancing Tribal partnerships in heritage preservation and repatriation.