American Indian Culture and Research Journal

This article critically reevaluates the mound-builders theory and the Hopewell tradition (200 BCE–500 CE) along the northern shores of Lake Ontario by incorporating Anishinaabeg perspectives on burial mounds and death practices. Through case studies of the Serpent Mounds (300 BCE–1400 CE, Hiawatha First Nation, Ontario) and the Hasting Mounds site (500 CE, Norwood, Ontario), this paper employs the concept of pyroepistemology, as introduced by Paulette Steeves (2021), to challenge and decolonize established archaeological narratives. Pyroepistemology, which seeks to eradicate colonial ideologies to reveal Indigenous knowledge, is crucial for reinterpreting the Hopewell tradition, traditionally viewed through a eurocentric lens. This study integrates Anishinaabeg oral histories and cultural practices to provide a more holistic understanding of these sites, advocating for an inclusive and respectful archaeological approach that acknowledges Anishinaabeg cultural heritage and calls for educational reforms in Ontario.