American Anthropologist will soon publish a new article titled "Archiving Futurity within the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Crisis," co-authored by Dr. Lindsay Martel Montgomery, Heather Law Pezzarossi and Jennifer Byram
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / December 12, 2025 / American Anthropologist will soon publish a new article titled "Archiving Futurity within the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Crisis," co-authored by Dr. Lindsay Martel Montgomery, Heather Law Pezzarossi and Jennifer Byram. The article is part of the forthcoming special series Archaeologies of Indigenous Futurity, which Dr. Montgomery co-edited with Dr. Law Pezzarossi. The series brings together work that examines how anthropologists can craft empowering narratives grounded in Indigenous collaborations, worldviews, and futures. Dr. Montgomery's article serves as a central piece of this collection, offering a critical analysis of how archival practices shape public understandings, institutional responses, and future possibilities related to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis.
As an anthropologist and archaeologist specializing in Indigenous cultural heritage and archival research, Dr. Montgomery brings deep expertise to this project. Her work highlights how systems of recordkeeping influence the visibility of the MMIW crisis and how the archive itself becomes a site where power and futurity intersect.
A Critical Look at Archival Power in the MMIW Crisis
In "Archiving Futurity within the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Crisis," Dr. Montgomery and her co-authors examine how information about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is collected, stored, circulated, and interpreted. They argue that archives are not passive containers of information. Instead, archives influence how cases are investigated, which narratives gain public attention, and how various Indigenous communities continue their efforts to seek justice.
The article demonstrates that inconsistencies, gaps, and fragmented documentation within institutional archives have long shaped how the crisis is understood. The authors highlight how this reality often forces Indigenous families to become archivists themselves. Families and community advocates gather photos, testimonies, case updates, and records that institutions fail to preserve. These personal archives serve not only as tools for visibility but also as forms of care and resistance.
By tracing how archived information affects public understanding and institutional decision-making processes, the article urges scholars and policy makers to rethink the systems that have historically marginalized Indigenous voices. Their analysis shows that archiving is not only about preserving the past. It is about shaping futures rooted in Indigenous-led resistance and cultural persistence.
A Special Series on Indigenous Futurity
The article appears within the larger special series Archaeologies of Indigenous Futurity, co-edited by Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Heather Law Pezzarossi. The series expands on the idea that futurity is a lived and ongoing practice within Indigenous communities. It highlights how Indigenous peoples engage with the past and present to create futures that challenge colonial assumptions and emphasize resilience.
In the introduction to the series, the co-editors outline how Indigenous futurity involves active engagement with ancestors, land, memory, and community knowledge. Contributors to the series explore themes such as place-based storytelling, activism, cultural practice, and memory work. These pieces reveal how Indigenous communities resist erasure by imagining futures that reflect their values, histories, and responsibilities across generations.
As part of this broader discussion, Dr. Montgomery's article y illustrates how futures are shaped not only through imagination but also through the systems and structures that document Indigenous lives. The article invites readers to consider how the archive becomes a critical tool in shaping what futures are acknowledged, pursued, and made possible.
A Scholar Committed to Community-Driven Research
Dr. Lindsay Martel Montgomery is widely recognized as a leading anthropologist and archaeologist whose work bridges academic scholarship and public impact. As an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, she specializes in Indigenous heritage research, community-engaged archaeology, and decolonial approaches to cultural resource management.
Dr. Montgomery earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University and has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities across North America. Her research weaves together archaeology, oral traditions, and Indigenous knowledge systems. She is committed to developing ethical research frameworks that prioritize Indigenous leadership, community consent, and long-term partnership.
Her work has been supported by organizations such as the Wenner-Gren Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Beyond academia, Dr. Montgomery advises museums, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies on how to foster meaningful and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. Her consulting and public scholarship help institutions re-examine their policies, programming, and approaches to heritage stewardship.
Her interviews and public-facing scholarship, including features like "Getting to Know Professor Lindsay M. Montgomery" and contributions to platforms such as IdeaMensch, highlight her views on leadership, research innovation, and community empowerment.
Building New Archival Futures
In the upcoming article, Dr. Montgomery and her co-authors call for academics, particularly anthropologists, to critically engage with archival repertoires. They advocate for research that centers Indigenous perspectives and supports Indigenous-led justice-driven efforts responding to the MMIW crisis. This involves clear documentation, greater transparency, and the development of systems shaped in collaboration with Indigenous communities.
The article highlights how the lack of accurate and comprehensive archival records has long contributed to misunderstandings about the scale of the crisis and undermined its public visibility. It also affects how families navigate their search for answers. Dr. Montgomery emphasizes that any effort to address the crisis must involve reimagining how institutions collect, maintain, and share information. By centering Indigenous experiences and community-led social justice campaigns, the article underscores the role of emotional labor, community care, and cultural responsibility in preserving the stories of those who have been lost.
Contributing to a Growing Public Dialogue
As public awareness of the MMIW crisis increases, Dr. Montgomery's work offers a timely and necessary contribution. The article presents a framework that shows how archival practices influence public understanding and policy responses.
The forthcoming publication will resonate with scholars, advocates, policy makers, and community members committed to addressing the crisis and supporting Indigenous futures. It reflects an approach that brings academic rigor into conversation with real-world issues affecting Indigenous communities across North America.
Looking Ahead
With the publication of "Archiving Futurity within the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Crisis," Dr. Lindsay Martel Montgomery continues to contribute meaningful scholarship to the study of Indigenous heritage, justice, and futurity. Her role as co-editor of the special series further strengthens her impact by offering a platform for work that highlights Indigenous resilience and community-led visions for the future.
Together, the article and the series signal an important moment for American Anthropologist. They invite readers to consider how futures are shaped by both the stories communities tell and the structures that record those stories. Dr. Montgomery's work encourages thoughtful dialogue and supports broader efforts to ensure Indigenous voices and experiences guide conversations about justice, memory, and collective futures.
For more information, please feel free to visit https://www.lindsay-montgomery.com/
Lindsay M. Montgomery
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-montgomery-38329b344/
email: lindsay.montgomery@utoronto.ca
SOURCE: Lindsay Montgomery
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