Megan Baker

Megan Baker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Northwestern University. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from UCLA (2023), an MA in American Indian Studies from UCLA, and a BA in Ethnicity and Race Studies from Columbia University. Her research focuses on Oklahoma Choctaw law, history, and material culture, examining intersections of Indigenous sovereignty, race, economy, and the history of anthropology in North America. She investigates how US property laws and anthropological knowledge have impacted Choctaw sovereignty and land dispossession.

Her current projects include community-based archival work with a county historical society, collaborations on revitalizing traditional textiles and rivercane basketry, and consulting for institutions like the Choctaw Cultural Center and Gilcrease Museum. Previously, she served as a Cultural Research Associate for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Historic Preservation department, editing the 'Iti Fabvssa' column in Biskinik newspaper and hosting the 'Chahta Tosholi' speaker series. She authored the 'A New Chahta Homeland' historical series covering Oklahoma Choctaw history from 1830 to the 2000s.

Baker is an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and actively engages in tribal community initiatives, public history projects, and educational programming.