A new micro-course in archaeology teaches young Indigenous adults how to investigate and identify cultural artifacts, with a view to keeping them on First Nations land.
In a joint venture, the and the 海角社区’s Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology — along with the participation of band members from — have been excavating a site on one of Chipewyan Prairie First Nation’s reserves.
“We want to build capacity in historic resource management so that nations can have their own archeologists to keep artifacts on reserve,” says course instructor William Wadsworth, a PhD candidate in the institute. He says First Nations currently don’t have control over their cultural heritage, since it is administered by the provincial government’s .
“For almost all the participants, this was their first introduction to archaeology,” says Wadsworth, “and many said it was a dream of theirs since they were kids.”
Many of about 15 students in the micro-course are employed by their nations as environmental monitors, he says. But anyone interested, regardless of age or background, can take the course.
After excavating the artifacts at a field school last September, they spent a week processing them on the 海角社区’s North Campus in November, as well as learning about various aspects of archeology from professors. Once analyzed, the artifacts will be returned to the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation to eventually create a museum, says Wadsworth.
“A lot of people think about archeologists as people that come and take your stuff, but that’s just not what it should be anymore,” says Bethany Whiteknife of .
“We’re decolonizing the archive, and it’s exciting to be a part of it. They actually care about our voices, and it’s nice to be heard.”