This collection challenges the prevailing notion that the Americanist Tradition in anthropology, typified by Franz Boas and his colleagues, is atheoretical. Contributions from twenty five distinguished scholars are brought together here to provide a comprehensive, accessible, state-of-the-art appraisal of interdisciplinary research in the areas of anthropology, linguistics, and Native Studies.

Participants in this dialogue accepted the challenge of making their underlying theoretical assumptions explicit. Topics range from historical debates in anthropology and linguistics to recent innovations within the Americanist Tradition. The search for authenticity is brought to bear on discussion of changing traditions in texts and literacy, in linguistics and education, and in contemporary discourse spanning the Americas.

Debate on the future of the Americanist Tradition forms a critical part of this collection. The volume juxtaposes Canadian and American theoretical work on language and revitalizes a shared tradition centred on the study of meaning. Readers are invited to enter this vibrant and open-ended Americanist discourse.

LISA PHILIPS VALENTINE is associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Western Ontario.

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Regna Darnell is Distinguished University Professor of Anthropology Emerita at the University of Western Ontario. She is coeditor of The Franz Boas Papers, Volume 1: Franz Boas as Public Intellectual—Theory, Ethnography, Activism (Nebraska, 2015). Darnell is the general editor of the multivolume series The Franz Boas Papers: Documentary Edition and co-editor of the Critical Studies in History of Anthropology series. 

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