Meet Jessica Yaquinto | Cultural Anthropologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Yaquinto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At Living Heritage Anthropology, we are committed to elevating the voices of Indigenous communities by creating opportunities for Indigenous narratives to be heard in land management and protection policies, as well as heritage preservation efforts. In today’s era of climate change, it is more important than ever to capture and appropriately share the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Indigenous People, who have been stewards of this land for generations, with current land managers. Our programs provide Indigenous elders and youth with opportunities to connect with their ancestral homelands through recreation initiatives and project work. We understand the significance of our Tribal partners sharing their deep connection to their lands with the public, and we work closely with them to become collaborative partners in preserving and protecting their homelands. We also prioritize capacity building within Tribal communities to help them achieve their own heritage goals.
 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets us apart from other firms is our specialized training in Cultural Anthropology, our dedication to ethnographic research and Tribal Consultation exclusively, and our unwavering focus on maximizing tribal benefit. At Living Heritage Anthropology, we take great pride in the Indigenous youth-elder camps that we have helped to bring to fruition, as well as when we receive referrals from satisfied Tribal Nations that we have previously worked with. Our commitment to doing right by Indigenous people and their homelands requires significant time, resources, and effort. We seek to collaborate only with partners who share our values and are willing to invest in these three essential areas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Starting from Cortez, I love to take people on the San Juan Skyway loop with stops in Telluride, Ridgway, Ouray. Silverton, Durango, and Mesa Verde. It’s also so fun to go on a hike at Sand Canyon in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and then go across for wine tasting at Sutcliffe. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park is totally underrated, just like many of the restaurants/breweries/cideries around Cortez. Thai Cortez, Stonefish, the Farm Bistro, WildEdge, Kelly’s Kitchen (Dolores), and Fenceline (Mancos) are all fabulous!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to our Indigenous partners and colleagues who have been instrumental in teaching me so much over the years. Their guidance and support have not only made me a better Anthropologist, but also a better person. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Colorado State Historical Fund, the Bureau of Land Management (Colorado and southeast Utah), the City of Boulder, Colorado, and Keystone Policy Center for their exceptional partnership throughout the years. The American Cultural Resources Association has been an invaluable resource, particularly the small business mastermind. Lastly, I have been fortunate to have some truly amazing mentors, but Dr. Richard Stoffle, Dr. Kathleen Van Vlack, Dr. Lisa Hardy, Ellen Brennan, and Janet Cohen truly stand out. I would like to express my gratitude to Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants for their unwavering guidance to us as a smaller company, as well as for the regular use of their conference room!

Website: livingheritageanthropology.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/living-heritage-anthropology/

Twitter: @LivingHeritageA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingHeritageA

Image Credits
Phil Yates, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks