This article by Ty P. Kāwika Tengan (2005) reflects on his experiences as a Native Hawaiian (‘Ōiwi) anthropologist navigating what he calls the “anthropological slot.” He critically examines how anthropology has historically been perceived as a colonial discipline in Hawai‘i, yet also explores how Indigenous scholars can reshape it through genealogy, kuleana (responsibility), and community-based work. By sharing personal narratives and institutional struggles, Tengan highlights the potential of “unsettling ethnography” to confront inequalities while fostering more accountable and collaborative research practices.

Tengan, Ty P. Kāwika. 2005. “Unsettling Ethnography: Tales of an ‘Ōiwi in the Anthropology Slot.” Anthropological Forum 15(3): 247–256.