WORKSHOPS

Beyond the Lapita Conference: Building a Pan-Pacific Consensus for a New Archaeological and Heritage Association

Workshop Convenors:

Nicholas W.S. Hogg*, Scarlett Chiu, Émilie Dotte-Sarout, Mathieu Leclerc, Christophe Sand, and Scott Fitzpatrick

Workshop Contributors and Co-Organisers:

Frank R. Thomas, Julie S. Field, Charles J.T. Radclyffe, Jason Kariwiga, Sandra Maillot, Craig Shapiro, Roxanne Tsang, Jean-Marie Wadrawane, and Louis Lagarde

*Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan; hoggnws@as.edu.tw

The International Lapita Conference series, which concluded in 2023, has left a legacy of collaboration that now requires a new, more inclusive framework. At this critical juncture, there is a growing consensus that Pacific archaeology must prioritize Indigenous participation and the equitable management of cultural heritage.

This workshop serves as a formal consultative space to deliberate on the future of a regional archaeological organization. Rather than a final launch, this session is designed to facilitate an open dialogue among all Pacific stakeholders—including those from Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia—to determine whether a new pan-Pacific association (provisionally named OAHA) is the desired path forward.

Building on preliminary discussions from the 2025 World Archaeological Congress, this session at IPPA aims to:

Seek Mandate: Collectively evaluate the necessity and regional support for a unified Pacific archaeological body.
Define Core Values: Discuss the missions and ethical frameworks that should guide such an association if it were to be formed.
Ensure Equitable Governance: Brainstorm structures that guarantee diverse representation, ensuring that no sub-region or voice is excluded from the foundational stage.

The working group invites all practitioners, museum professionals, and Indigenous leaders to contribute their perspectives. Our goal is to ensure that any future organization is not just a legacy of the past, but a product of a truly collaborative regional vision.

Key Discussion Themes

Defining the Need: What gaps in the current Pacific archaeological landscape should a new association fill?
Inclusive Structural Models: How can we ensure governance reflects the geographic and cultural diversity of the entire Pacific?
Pathways to Ratification: What formal steps and level of regional agreement (e.g., a "30-signatory support" threshold) are necessary before a formal launch?
Operational Mechanisms: How can we facilitate ongoing communication between academic and professional heritage practitioners across the region?

To register

Please email Nicholas Hogg, hoggnws@as.edu.tw.

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