Areas of Specialization

Historical ethnology, ethnohistory, language change; American Indians

Background

My interests include the languages and cultures of the Natives people of eastern North America, especially the Algonquian-speaking peoples of southern New England, past and present.  Currently I am working on historical ethnographies of the 17th century chiefdoms of coastal southern New England, and examining the contact period in light of theories of economic and symbolic transformation.  I am particularly interested in the intersection of linguistics, archaeology and comparative ethnology as it applies to this region.  Work with contemporary Native American communities in the Northeast and Virginia includes an interest in politics and in language and cultural revival.

Education

PhD Brown 1981