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Mini🧵! Follow @iowaarchaeology.bsky.social for more #Iowa Section 106 success stories throughout the month! Without the NHPA and Section 106, there's a whole lotta important Iowa local history that would've never been discovered.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

And not to mention the overreach and infringement of Tribal sovereignty and state/local voices. How dare these senators tout Tribal relationships as a strength when they didn't bring anyone to the table!!

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The proposed changes also cut the public completely out of the Section 106 process. It was an "oops" oversight the Dem authors can't and won't fix. Most new terminology isn't defined and will go to the courts to decide in litigation. Historic preservation is sacrificed to sloppy legislation.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Section 106 in this bill would only apply to federal undertakings on federal lands. #Iowa has no state-level protections for cultural resources aside from ancient burials, leaving the vast majority of archaeological sites in Iowa unprotected from development and destruction.

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David @archaeomather.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Tribal sovereignty in the United States and the National Historic Preservation Act are under attack from proposed federal regulation changes, and the permitting bill currently in the Senate. This system has worked well for 60 years. Please contact your elected representatives.

106strong.com

SECTION 106

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Ausarchosaur @ausarchosaur.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Petition to save the Sternberg Museum: www.change.org/p/save-the-s...

change.org

Sign the Petition

Save the Sternberg Museum of Natural History from Closure

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ira Matt, the executive director of NATHPO, wrote about dangers to tribal sovereignty in the new senate bipartisan permitting compromise. "What is being presented as a bipartisan compromise appears to be a compromise over how much Tribal participation can be reduced and constrained..." #Section106 🏺

Ira Matt
Non-Profit Executive l Indigenous Leader l Tribal Sovereignty Advocate l Tribal Law and Policy Expert

I met with Senate staff this morning regarding the bipartisan permitting negotiations and proposed amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act. I have now reviewed the actual draft language provided today, which I am attaching here.

Perhaps most troubling, the draft would put into federal statute a new definition of a “property of traditional religious or cultural importance.” That should concern every Tribal Nation.

The federal government should not be defining for Tribal Nations what constitutes a place of traditional religious or cultural importance without direct and meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations themselves. These places derive their significance from our histories, religions, cultures, knowledge, and relationships to place, not from a definition negotiated in Congress.

This is not merely a technical change. It would place federal boundaries around what kinds of Tribal cultural places can receive recognition and protection under federal law.

And it does not stop there. The draft would create a new federal review regime for Tribal Historic Preservation programs, including evaluations at least every two years and potential suspension of funding or federal assumption of THPO functions for programs determined not to meet federally imposed timelines or metrics.

It would substantially narrow what qualifies as a federal undertaking, including excluding projects where the only federal involvement is most forms of financial assistance.

It would also arbitrarily limit what effects matter under Section 106, including heightened standards for visual, atmospheric, and audible effects and the exclusion of temporary effects.

Taken together, this is not simply an effort to make Section 106 more efficient. It would give the federal government greater authority to define the places that matter to us, judge how Tribal preservation programs operate, and narrow when and how Tribal Nations have a voice in decisions affecting those places.

What is being presented as a bipartisan compromise appears to be a compromise over how much Tribal participation can be reduced and constrained, and how much federal control over Tribal cultural interests can be expanded.

That is not respect for Tribal sovereignty. It is paternalism dressed up as permitting reform.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Sending so much love to my School of the Wild colleagues; ICSSD teachers, staff, and students; family and friends of those lost; and everyone at Borlaug. This is so incredibly sad, and the whole community is grieving for Hannah and Ahmed.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

#Section106 can be confusing & I've learned that many archaeologists can't even explain it. Before some people (i.e. the public who may or may not care) can connect with the potential impacts, they need to know the foundation and history. As we say in archaeology, context is important!

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I've been quiet but busy here in Iowa, collecting TONS of data, crunching metrics, developing impact data & talking to congressional aides. This article is licensed for those who wanna adapt content for your area - go for it! Happy to share how I came up with some of the data. #Section106 #crm🏺

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Dan of the Year @downwithdan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

"this edible ain't shit" two hours later:

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Sorrowscopes @sorrowscopes.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Gemini: If at first you don’t succeed, try giving up and going back to bed.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

But the storms delayed the water valve shut off, so I got to take a quick low pressure shower before all my meetings today! I'll take it. 💁🏼‍♀️

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

And one - maybe two - water main breaks on the east side, but my windows are so foggy, I can barely see what's going on!

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Rebecca Nagle @rebeccanagle.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The Trump administration is trying to gut one of the strongest laws protecting tribal sacred sites, burial grounds, and ancestral lands. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has worked since 1966. Now a handpicked Council voted to rewrite it..in one week. Here's what at stake.👇

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

My brain briefly short-circuited today at the groomer when I picked up my dog. In 4 years, we've only met one other "twin"! 🐩

A smiling, black and white party poodle with his front paws up on gated door. In the background, at the dog goomers', is another black and white parti poodle sitting on a grooming table

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Found out someone I know got alpha-gal syndrome recently, probably while at an outdoor educational event. Ugh, we can't have anything nice anymore 😑

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Talked to my 66yo stepdad who lives in rural Wisconsin. He ranted against Trump's "chromies" 😂, wants to abolish ICE and lobbyists getting kickbacks, and he said he's voting for Hong ✊🏼

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This loss absolutely breaks my heart. Fly high, Glen, and thanks for all the memories. www.npr.org/2026/07/29/g...

A brunette woman posing with a young Glen Hansard.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I had to bribe my dog with a cheese curd to go outside and pee in this heat 🥵 (while standing outside with him)

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Gavan Reilly @gavreilly.com · 26/07/2026

“The famine is over! The curse be damned!! Hit the nuclear button! Mayo have won the All-Ireland!!” An all-time great sports commentary moment from Stephen Grealis and Martin McHugh on Mayo’s Midwest Radio. #gaa

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Creating art & crafting helps my brain process how to approach big challenges, and next week will be a flurry of meetings and responding to action items and sharing information (within my abilities as a public service employee) as we fight these threats to historic preservation & Tribal consultation

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I finished painting the 3D-printed mastodon tusk and teeth replicas last week and illustrated several sacred objects (we don't publish photos of those), and now I don't have any creative distractions from **waves hands** all the shit

Replica mastodon tusk fragments, large molars, and small molars, created by acrylic paint on 3D prints

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

New book chapter out! But more importantly, it brings full circle an important Section 106 creative mitigation we did a few years ago, with heavy Tribal and local community involvement, not only in the process but in the communication of their story. Playlist from that project: tinyurl.com/5n8pxwyd

tinyurl.com

Understanding Section 106 Archaeology & Improving Tribal Consultation: A Lake Delhi, Iowa Case Study - YouTube

This project was produced under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement, pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, among the U.S. Dep...

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Oh, that feeling of a brand new author's copy! Our chapter is on a collaborative creative mitigation that occurred after catastrophic weather washed out a lake & subsequently, Indigenous sites were damaged. Find Human Identities in the Archaeological Record here: www.bloomsbury.com/us/human-ide... 🏺

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Ciara | Ciaraíoch 🎨 @ciaraioch.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Very annoying that the host and governing structure of the World Cup and international football is evil because football itself is unsurpassable craic

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I presented today at the Preserve Iowa Summit about seizing the unexpected opportunity to teach youth about historic preservation thru the FIRST robotics challenge. That whole thing was part joy, part insanity 😂... But now 800k kids know something about archaeology that they didn't before!

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

These boys are ridiculous 🐈‍⬛🐩

A black cat sitting partially on top of a sleeping poodle's head

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Stick, drop, gimme, park, walk... I need to keep a better list!

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Alfie knows so many words, I had to screenshot my incomplete list! He also knows the names of his cat siblings, dog friends, and human besties. He understands word combos too. Tried talking buttons but he sends them flying with his brute paw! 😅 He's my poodle toddler.

a list of words in white font on black background that say: Sit, Stay, Wait, Yes, No, Potty, Lay, Down, Up, Off, Come, Here, Stop, Move, Gentle, Good boy, Take a bow, Take it, Ready, Where, Outside, Inside, Go, Find, Show me, Beep beep, Water, Drink, Food, Breakfast, Dinner, Kibbles, Eat, Treat, Bickie, Hot dog, Chicken, Beef stick, Bone, Chewy stick, Cream cheese, Popcorn, Medicine, Toy, Bin, Duck, Hedgie, Lamb Chop, Rhino, Frisbee, Ball, Blanket, Big, Bed, Bedtime, Kong, No licks, Grass, Home, Office, Car, Kitchen, Bathroom, Work, Squirrel, Dog, Cat, Deer, Neighbor, Rain, Wind, Hot, Bird, Noise, Smell, Paw, Ear, Tail, Pets, Scritches, Butt, Wipe, Bath, Towel, Cuddles, Couch, Basement, Stairs, Button

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

My dog has been working on an ostrich leg bone I got at the IC market for nearly a year! It's still long enough for him to awkwardly carry and drop inconveniently near my feet

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Ope. "An error occurred while processing your request." I lost the first round already.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Battling spring ants at home and the annual password change at work. Neither of these are sprints 😆

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Alice Kehoe came up to me at the #SAA2026SFO award ceremony and said "it's so nice to clap for someone you're actually happy to see get an award" 🥹🥹 ... She is forever and always a champion of women in archaeology 💪🏼🏺

Two women smiling at the camera and holding award plaques that say "Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award"

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I'm excited for the awards ceremony this evening & celebratory dinner with other contributors afterwards! You can find this book at the Bloomsbury booth and say to me at the Project Archaeology booth where we can chat about how to integrate public outreach into anything you're working on ☺️ #SAA2026

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Bo is always a poor, poor baby who doesn't get enough food or attention

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Headed to #SAA2026 but I'm actually not presenting anything this year! I'll be helping Project Archaeology with their Chinatown field trip tomorrow & exhibit booth all week. Come say hi and we can chat about all things public outreach. Also, am receiving a #pubarch award on Friday! 🍻

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Teaching, outreach, and public programming are consistently undervalued & underpaid across the humanities and sciences, when practitioners know that effectively lighting that *spark* among the public is critical to the sustainability and future of museums, archaeology, science, etc.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Dog for sale because he ran zoomies in the muddy backyard immediately after I watered my grass seed and then just now he sat next to me and farted.

Close-up of a black and white parti poodle with a wet nose and gaping open mouth

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Just took the dog's skull to my orbital socket, so I think it's time to head to the office so Bo can't complete the morning trifecta

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Whichever cat doesn't have "the spot" is relegated to human harassment duty & now I have a shirt and lap blanket covered in coffee because Brigid headbutted my mug 😺☕💥. I'd say 1 outta every 4 coffees gets spilled by one of my 3 beasts. Happy Monday!

A woman with a grimace wearing a green plaid hoodie with an obvious liquid spill stain on the front of it

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Today's doom scrolling involves a mass shooting that took place early this morning about one mile from my house. There really aren't any words anymore

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Dr. Sarah Parcak @indyfromspace.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

A huge part of academe is likability- sorry it's true!- and mean arrogant sexpest assholes who hate their students are pushed out. You have to enjoy being around other people and be kind to your colleagues to have genuine long lasting impact.

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E.C.Reetz @ecreetz.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I have less than 3 days to finish a presentation for this weekend's Iowa Archeological Society meeting and Bo is just gonna Bo. This is after he bit my thigh because I wouldn't make him a blanket fort on my lap.

A black cat blocking and pawing at a computer monitor showing a PowerPoint in development

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Iowa Archaeology @iowaarchaeology.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

A HUGE congrats to Grinnell College's @cocalola.bsky.social on this grant, awarded to support important archaeological work & research at the Rock Springs, WY, Chinatown | 🏺https://thesandb.com/55311/news/anthropology-professor-laura-ng-receives-10000-grant-for-wyoming-chinatowns-research-project/

thesandb.com

Anthropology Professor Laura Ng receives $10,000 grant for Wyoming Chinatowns research project

The Far Western Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Anthropology Professor Laura Ng’s research project, titled “Wyoming Chinatowns and Emigrant Home Villages: Archaeologies of Labor, Racial...

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