Sharing knowledge about archaeology in northeastern Ontario
Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land we now know as Ontario since time immemorial left traces that we recognize as archaeological sites and ancestor’s belongings that are commonly called artifacts. The majority of the sites in Ontario are Indigenous, yet there are very few practicing Indigenous archaeologists. This puts communities at a disadvantage when they are asked to consult about developments that may impact heritage sites in their traditional territories.
Since 2019 we have been organizing and implementing opportunities for Indigenous community members to receive training in archaeological methods.
The LaCloche Cataloguing Project: A Collaborative Project with the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation and Sagamok Anishnawbek
Is archaeology only about excavations? Definitely not! There are many things we can learn from the belongings (artifacts) that were excavated decades ago, some of which are now stored in museums, institutions, and cultural centres.
In the 1970s, multiple teams of archaeologists excavated at the La Cloche fur trade post on Lake Huron in the traditional territory of Sagamok Anishnawbek. The findings of these excavations have never been published. The collections are now cared for at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation.
Our project brings together Indigenous learners of all ages to create a catalogue of the belongings from La Cloche, with the goal of telling the story of the post in a way that is meaningful and accessible. Participants share their knowledge about many aspects of heritage and participate in cultural activities facilitated by the OCF.
Awards
Congratulations to Dr. Alicia Hawkins and collaborators at the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF), who received a Connaught Community Partnership Research Program award for their project exploring the cataloguing and reclamation of archaeological artifacts. View the full story at U of T Celebrates.
Team
- Alicia Hawkins, UTM Anthropology
- Sarah Hazell, Canadian Archaeological Association and UT
- Naomi Recollet, Ojibwe Cultural Foundation
- Allen Toulouse, Sagamok Anishnawbek
Publications
2023 Hazell, Sarah and Alicia Hawkins. Doing Archaeology Without Strings: Capacity Building and Education in Northeastern Ontario. Advances in Archaeological Practice.
Indigenous Archaeological Monitor Training
Archaeological projects in Ontario impact Indigenous heritage, and one way that First Nations have gained greater control over the management of their archaeological heritage is through the presence of monitors on archaeological excavations.
The Ontario Archaeological Society offers workshops to Indigenous communities, and we participate in these through in person and online offering of modules on a range of topics, including Indigenous ceramics, mapping in archaeology, and formation processes.