John S. Harris, MA, RPA

In essence, is about unapologetically keeping the integrity of the original things, however quirky and inconvenient. - Methodological Transparency & Integrity: We practice open, ethical, and replicable methods that protect the integrity of both evidence and process. We oppose scholarly censorship and defend the right to document, question, and share findings without distortion, while honoring ethical and legal responsibilities around confidentiality. We let the evidence speak, even when its implications are complex, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. In practice, this looks like our documents explaining our assumptions, recognition of data gaps, decision logic, flagging limitations, and otherwise being clear about our methods. - Grounded, Iterative, Field-Informed Inquiry: Prioritize community-grounded, site-specific, and user-informed approaches that let the evidence speak for itself, whether in archaeology, UXR, or stakeholder engagement. In practice, we incorporate a variety of different avenues of evidences and ways of knowing in our assessments, analyses, and other interpretations. - Preservation of the Natural, the Historic, and the Handmade: Celebrate the original, the imperfect, and the quirky, valuing what endures over what conforms. In practice, we consider the processes and places in-between matter as much as the intended objects of study. We also seek to preserve the details of local conventions, nuances, traces, and vernacular. - Respect for Lived Experience and Diverse Epistemologies: Respect the many ways people understand the world from traditional knowledge to hands-on experience and community insight. We listen closely, portray stories with care, and let real voices shape the truth we share. In practice, this means expanding inquiry beyond the database and book, and inviting community voice, and respecting different emotional, spiritual, and relational truths. HAR donates 1% of its gross income to organizations that protect cultural continuity, intellectual freedom, and ethical stewardship. These contributions reflect our commitment to authenticity, lived experience, and methodological integrity. - First Peoples Fund & Indigenous Environmental Network We support Indigenous artists, activists, and environmental stewards whose work safeguards traditional knowledge, land-based lifeways, and community resilience. - Government Accountability Project & Scholars at Risk Network We stand with whistleblowers and scholars whose voices are suppressed for speaking inconvenient truths. Their courage affirms our belief in transparency, evidence-led inquiry, and the right to question power. - News Literacy Project We invest in media literacy to help communities navigate misinformation and engage critically with the world, an extension of our commitment to field-informed insight and narrative fidelity. - Military Religious Freedom Foundation We support service members whose religious expression is threatened or suppressed, recognizing that freedom of belief is foundational to human dignity and pluralistic understanding. HAR also offers reduced rates to conservation nonprofits, Tribal organizations, and Veteran groups not as charity, but as a commitment to working as part of the same team. These communities protect landscapes, preserve cultural memory, and defend freedoms—including the right to belief, expression, and self-determination. By adjusting our pricing, we hope to remove barriers to ethical collaboration, amplify under-resourced voices, and ensure that our services remain accessible to those doing this mission-critical work.