Scholarships and Grants

Multicultural Program:  Native American Scholarship Program

In June of 2009 the Texas Archeological Society (TAS) will offer the seventh year of its scholarship program to support Native Americans who attend the TAS Field School.  This program allows our members to meet, talk with, and learn from the native people whose traditions and lifeways are tied to Texas archeological sites.  Scholarships are sponsored by donations from members of TAS and other local archeological societies, the Council of Texas Archeologists, archeological contracting firms, foundations, and others.

Tribal groups will be invited to send two members to take part in the TAS Field School in the northern panhandle of Texas near the town of Perryton, on June 13-20, 2009.  It will be held on the Courson Ranch near Wolf Creek.  Several prehistoric and historic sites will be excavated under the direction of Dr. Scott Brosowske.  Field survey training will be conducted by Margaret Howard, including archeological site recognition and the use of compass and maps.

TAS Field Schools teach the principles of archeological excavation, survey, and laboratory processing through working side-by-side with experienced avocational and professional archeologists.  This is an ideal activity for families and persons of all ages who are in good health.  Informative lectures and activities are offered, and newcomers are given special training.  Young people between the ages of 7 and 13 attend an educational program.  Visit the TAS Field School page for more information.

TAS will support almost all of the field school costs for the two scholarship recipients from each native group.  The Field School registration fee is waived, and each scholarship recipient is given a kit containing the tools needed for excavation or survey.  Scholarships include partial travel reimbursement, provided by check when recipients arrive at Field School.  Each scholarship recipient is registered as a TAS member, and will receive the Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society and Texas Archeology newsletter.

Lodging space will be provided in the TAS campground located around scenic Lake Fryer http://www.perryton.org/lake%20fryer.html about 20 miles south of the Field School.  Scholarship recipients must bring their own tents and camping gear; a list of recommended equipment will be mailed out.  Rest facilities are port-o-cans and open air showers.  Breakfast and dinner are provided from the TAS camp kitchen at no charge to scholarship recipients.  Scholarship recipients provide their own lunches, but TAS will furnish ice for their coolers.  Perryton has grocery stores where lunch food and other supplies can be purchased.

Since 2003, around 60 Native Americans have participated in the TAS Native American Field School scholarship program, including members of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, Delaware Nation, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, Lipan Apache Band of Texas, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Tap Pilam/Coahuiltecan Nations.  The 2007 Field School had the highest scholarship attendance to date, including 18 people from 8 different Indian groups. Articles and photographs of past Native American Field School scholarship programs are at these links:

Record Year For Native American Scholarship Program
Reintroduction of a People
Native Americans and Archeologists Find Common Ground

The TAS Native American Scholarship program was recently featured in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.  View the article here.

If you are interested in participating in or donating to the Native American Field School scholarship program, contact Margaret Howard at cell phone number 512/940-2406 or via email to the main TAS office tasoffice@txarch.org. We look forward to sharing the TAS Field School experience with more Native Americans in June 2008!

Margaret Howard, Chair
Native American Scholarship subcommittee