Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 July 2009
In spring 2007, the transcript of the forum discussion was sent to all of the panelists for their review and approval. That summer we invited a number of people—several of them individuals who had been invited to attend the Chacmool Conference but were unable to do so—to contribute essays to be published as commentaries on the forum proceedings or the topic of the forum itself. We made a concerted effort to seek people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives; however, not everyone responded to the invitation. It took another full year, until late summer 2008, to gather and edit the commentaries, with several glitches along the way. But, as a result, this special section includes seven stimulating essays from scholars who are passionate about the topic and the issues it raises.
1 Public outreach in North America includes the mailing of project materials (maps, pamphlets, consent form, explanatory letter, etc.) to native communities, email and telephone conversations with tribal leaders and administrators, personal visits to Native American (U.S.) and First Nations (Canada) communities, presentations to tribal councils (U.S. and Canada), and interviews for native radio and television programs and native newspapers.