User:Lajmmoore/Paul Edward Montgomery Ramirez

Paul Edward Montgomery Ramirez is an indigenous (Chorotega) Nicaraguan-American public archaeologist who researches the representation of marginalised cultures and pasts.

Research
Montgomery Ramirez researches decolonial options for heritage attractions and the de-marginalisation of cultures today and in the past. Their postgraduate research was entitled "Branding Barbarians: A Study into the Use of Renewable Heritage Tourism Destinations as Platforms for Decolonial Options" and was awarded by the University of York. A Post-Doctoral Fellowship by the Humanities Resource Centre at the same institution extended this research. This included publishing on indigenous identities and creating a new research project looking at how practitioners of European ethnic religions and how they intersect with identity, cultural heritage management, use of space and knowledge. They were also a founding editor of Love Archaeology magazine.

Indigenous Rights
Montgomery Ramirez is an expert in indigenous rights, the indigenous peoples of Anglo-America and the pre-Hispanic peoples of Nicaragua. They joined the Indigenous Council of the World Archaeological Congress in 2016. They have published on how indigenous researchers are vital to disrupting Eurocentric research methods. This research narrates the complexity of navigating indigenous identity whilst also working as a heritage profession and public archaeologist. Further research includes work on cultural memory in indigenous Latino Central American communities. Starting in 2018, they are Philanthropy Development Co-ordinator for the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance. Montgomery Ramirez's expertise advises on heritage tourism solutions for the Global South.

Awards
2017 - Orgullo de Mi País Award "(Pride of My Country Award") awarded by the Embassy of Nicaragua for extending understanding and impact of Nicaraguan histories.

Education
Montgomery Ramirez completed their doctoral project at the University of York - Department of Archaeology, submitting his thesis entitled: "Branding Barbarians: A Study into the Use of Renewable Heritage Tourism Destinations as Platforms for Decolonial Options". They were previously awarded an MA in Public Archaeology from University College London in 2013, and an MLitt in Celtic & Viking Archaeology from the University of Glasgow in 2011. Whilst at Glasgow, Montgomery Ramirez was part of the team that formed the magazine and out reach programme Love Archaeology whose work helped to save the department from closure. Their undergraduate degree was awarded by Cleveland State University in 2009.