Equity Statement
Practicing Inclusive and Accurate History and Cultural Resources Management
We believe that all people, past and present, deserve to have their stories documented and shared. In our practices of archaeology, anthropology, history, historic preservation, and heritage interpretation, HRA strives to be inclusive and accurate.
Acknowledging Past and Ongoing Disparities in Our Disciplines
We acknowledge that longstanding practices of racism and cultural marginalization in our fields have created, and continue to create, barriers and disparities for marginalized and historically excluded communities. Within our disciplines, the racism and power dynamics within colonial systems have determined the course of many histories. These dynamics have dictated whose stories are collected and preserved, who does the collecting and how, and whose stories are told, by whom and how. We also acknowledge that within HRA, a reliance on long-held practices, values, and vocabulary has limited our equitable development.
Our Commitment to Inclusive Practice
We believe we can best serve our clients by recognizing and addressing problematic practices in our disciplines. We seek to overcome these problems and the harm they have caused to marginalized and historically excluded communities. We are engaging multiple perspectives, acknowledging barriers to equity, examining our internal biases, and raising awareness of social and racial injustice. We are seeking sources and creating products that tell broader stories. HRA recognizes that we are constantly learning and unlearning our own collective history.
Our Commitment to Our Employees
Within HRA, we are taking this inward, striving to improve our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We seek to apply these principles across our operations, beginning with recruiting, hiring, and retaining staff. We believe that all people deserve to be respected and treated equitably in the workplace. For our current and future staff, we commit to sharing knowledge generously; appreciating and acknowledging our individual lived experiences, skills, and expertise; and maintaining a psychologically safe workplace that encourages brave conversations.