Bylaws of the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists

A Section of the American Anthropological Association

Article I.

Name. Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists, a Section of the American Anthropological Association.

Article II.

Purposes. Section 1. The purpose of the Association is to

• advance anthropological study relating to Indigenous peoples, both past and present
• support and encourage professional development of members by supporting a forum for respectful and engaged discussion of common issues and current work
• provide a network for the support and encouragement of Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students of anthropology
• increase intellectual exchange by sponsoring symposia, sessions, workshops, exhibitions and publications
• advocate and facilitate stronger ties between Indigenous communities and the field of anthropology
• encourage professional work that will benefit both the discipline of anthropology and Indigenous communities

Article III.

Powers. Section 1. The Association shall have the power to determine assessments to further its ends; to determine voting requirements on all Association matters; (b) to appoint editors, committees and other agents, set publication and program policies appropriate to its purposes and to publish newsletters, reports, bulletins, journals, and monographs; (c) to affiliate with other organizations in the pursuit of common aims, and to appoint delegates or representatives to such organizations; (d) to organize itself into interest groups, in accordance with the Bylaws of the American Anthropological Association; and (e) to engage in such other activities in keeping with the objectives of the Association that are not reserved by the Bylaws of the American Anthropological Association, inimical to the American Anthropological Association interests, or prohibited by law. Section 2. No part of the net receipts of the Association shall insure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members, officers, committee members, or other private persons. Section 3. The Association shall not attempt to influence legislation, and it shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. It may, as circumstances merit, take public positions that defend the interests of its members. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Association shall not carry on any other activities which are proscribed for organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future Internal Revenue Code) or which are proscribed for organizations to which contributions are deductible under 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future Internal Revenue Code).

Article IV.

Membership. Section 1. Membership in the Association shall be open to any member in good standing of the American Anthropological Association who supports the above purposes as set forth in Article II., without regard to age, sex, religion, or nationality, subject to the payment of dues stipulated by the Board of the Association, hereafter Board. Section 2. A member in good standing shall be eligible to hold elective or appointive office, participate in the scholarly program, receive publications, and have one vote in electing officers and the transaction of other business of the Association, subject only to the restrictions defined elsewhere in these Bylaws. Each member shall receive all the Association’s regular publications for one year covered by the member’s dues. Section 3. Membership in the Association shall include regular and student memberships except that the Board shall have the authority to recommend special classes of membership to AAA such as Life Members, or such others as they deem fit. Section 4. Application for membership shall be in writing, which will include fax, internet, telephone along with paper transactions. Section 5. The Board will decide the annual level of dues, subscriptions and other fees. Section 6. The Board may, after notice and such hearing as circumstances require, by two-thirds majority vote, remove from the membership roles any member for just cause. The action of the Board may be subject to an appeal to the Association at its Annual Business Meeting.

Article V.

Organization. Section 1. The officers shall be a past-President, President, President-elect, Secretary/Treasurer and Student Representative. Section 2. The Board, all of whom have voting privileges, shall consist of the past-President, President, President-elect, Secretary/Treasurer and Student Representative. The Student Representative must be a currently enrolled graduate student of anthropology. Section 3. The Greyheads shall consist of all American Indian anthropologists who are 60 years of age and older. The Greyheads serve the entire Association and represent the value placed on the wisdom of age and experience by all Indigenous societies. Greyheads are not elected to this position but occupy it as long as they are members of the Association. They may run for elective office if they so desire. Section 4. The President-elect shall be elected for a two-year term at the conclusion of which the President-elect shall succeed to the Presidency to serve a two-year term. At this time, the former President shall become the past-President for a two-year term. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected for a four-year term. The Student Representative shall be elected for a two-year term. The terms of all offices shall begin at the annual AIA Board meeting held during the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. Section 5. Subject to general directives and limitations imposed by the membership, the Board shall have the authority to execute on behalf of the Association all powers and functions of the Association as defined in these Bylaws. Section 6. In the event of a vacancy in any elected office, the Board shall have the power to make interim appointments to the office until the time of the next election. Individuals so appointed to interim terms may be elected to that office for an immediate subsequent term.

Article VI.

Duties of Officers and Appointees. Section 1. The President shall be the presiding officer of the Association and President of the Board. The President shall exercise all the duties and responsibilities commonly associated with this office. The President shall serve as the Association’s first representative on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Anthropological Association in the event the Association is entitled to such representation. Acting on the advice and consent of the Board, the President shall appoint necessary committees and define their duties, appoint representatives of the Association to other societies, agencies, or councils, and select representatives from such organizations. The actions of the President in exercising the duties and responsibilities of the office shall be subject to review and approval of the Board. Section 2. In the absence, death, resignation, or incapacity of the President, the duties of the office shall be assumed by the President-elect. Section 3. The Secretary/Treasurer, subject to the directives of the Board, shall have charge of administrative matters under the direction of the President, and serve as Secretary to the Board. In addition, the Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of proper and adequate records that at all times shall be open to inspection by the Board. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing the financial management of the Association subject to provisions in these Bylaws. Section 4. The Board shall be responsible for the AIA Section news in Anthropology News. Section 5. The Student Representative shall be responsible for advising the Board about the needs and interests of student members, as well as means of involving students in Association activities. The Student Representative shall report to the Board annually. Section 6. The Board shall meet at least once a year prior to the Annual Business Meeting of the Association and at the call of the President may hold additional meetings as required. These meetings may be by phone or other electronic means. Special meetings of the Board shall be called by the President at any time upon written demand of at least three members of the Board. Section 7. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of its membership. Section 8. The Board shall act upon the budget provided by the Treasurer no later than the date specified by the AAA. Section 9. At the time of the Annual Business Meeting, the Board shall report its activities to the membership. At the end of January of each year, the president shall provide a written Annual Report to the Executive Board of the AAA, in accordance with AAA By-laws. The report shall include the reports of officers, committees and other agents. Section 10. Any member of the Board who misses two meetings shall be subject to removal for nonattendance at meetings of the Board. Written notification of this possibility shall be provided after the first missed meeting with dismissal action possible by a vote of two-thirds of the Board during, or subsequent to, the second missed meeting. Such vacated office shall be filled immediately in accordance with Article V, Section 6.

Article VII.

Nominations and Elections. Section 1. The Association wishes to honor the wisdom and experience of the elder Indigenous anthropologists who have spent decades advancing the interests of younger native anthropologists. Therefore all Indigenous anthropologists over the age of 60 shall comprise a single Nominations Committee, also called the Greyheads. They shall meet either by email, telephone, mail, or at the annual meetings, and will nominate candidates for elective office. They shall determine if these candidates are willing to run for office and will then present the list to the Board. Any Greyhead may run for elective office if nominated by the rest of the Nomination Committee. Section 2. Prior to each election the Greyheads will present a list to the Board of at least 2 candidates for each elected office that is open, having already ascertained that the candidates are willing to run for office. The Board shall then send these nominations to the AAA headquarters according to the Section nomination and election schedule. Section 3. Each active member shall be entitled to vote for one candidate for each office. Voting shall be by paper or in the event it becomes possible, electronic ballot. Voting will be by secret ballot. Thirty days (30) shall be allowed for the return of ballots. Ballots must be received by AAA by the date specified. If electronic ballots are used for issues other than elective office, the website for entering a vote shall be available 60 days before the Annual Business Meeting. To be counted as votes, ballots must be received by the Secretary/Treasurer no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. The candidate for an office who receives the highest number of votes shall be elected to that office. In the event of a tie, the Section shall hold a run-off election within 90 days.

Article VIII.

Meetings. Section 1. The Association shall hold an Annual Business Meeting at the time of the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association. A quorum for this meeting shall be five percent of the membership or 20 members, whichever is greater. All business to be brought up at the Annual Business Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer in writing no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. Any action taken shall be ratified by a majority vote of the membership subsequent to the meeting. Section 2. The place and date of the next Annual Business Meeting shall be disclosed to the membership no later than 60 days in advance of the date of the meeting.

Article IX.

Referendums Section 1. Any matters of business by the Association may be decided by means of a referendum vote under conditions specified in the Bylaws. Section 2. A referendum vote shall be held at any time upon the initiation of the Board or a signed petition to the Board by 10 percent of the membership. A majority of votes received shall constitute the deciding vote.

Article X.

Finances. Section 1. The fiscal year of the Association shall be that of the American Anthropological Association. Section 2. The Association shall submit an annual operating budget to the American Anthropological Association which, when approved, shall govern Association activities. Section 3. Annual dues shall be collected by the American Anthropological Association in accordance with their procedures. Members in arrears shall not be entitled to receive the Association’s publications or to vote, and those one year in arrears shall be dropped from the rolls. Section 4. The income from annual dues and other sources shall constitute the Working Fund, available for operations, publications, and current expenses consistent with the purposes of the Association as the Board may determine. Section 5. No financial obligation in excess of 50% of the available fund balance shall be assumed by the Board or by any officer on behalf of the Association in any given year.

Article XI.

Amendments. Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by vote of the membership provided that a proposed amendment is approved by two-thirds of the votes cast. Section 2. Amendments may be proposed by the Board or ten percent of the membership. The proposed amendments shall be made available to the members of the Association at least 60 days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. Section 3. The amendment and provisions of these Bylaws shall be effective immediately upon adoption and shall supersede and nullify all previous enactments in conflict with them.