2021 Heritage Calgary Awards - Advocacy & Volunteerism: Siksika Archaeology Field School
2021 Heritage Calgary Awards
Brendon Many Bears Excavating a Roasting Pit Feature. Courtesy of University of Calgary / Old Sun Community College.
Siksika Archaeology Field School
2021 Heritage Calgary Award: Advocacy & Volunteerism
Heritage is much more than a place, it’s the stories and meaning we share about our history, which helps us make sense of our present and future.
In August 2020, a collaboration between the University of Calgary and Old Sun Community College provided the opportunity for Old Sun students to learn about archaeology on their ancestral land.
We sat down with a number of the key stakeholders who helped bring the Siksika Archaeology Field School to life, including:
Maurice Manyfingers, Fritzi Woods, Dr. Vivian Ayoungman, Zoe Cascadden, Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer, Dr. Peter Dawson, Gwen Bearchief and Angelina Ayoungman.
Tipi Raising, August 26, 2020. Courtesy of University of Calgary / Old Sun Community College.
HC: Tell us a little bit about your project.
The project team successfully undertook a small archaeological training and research program on the Siksika First Nation in August and September 2020. A partnership between Old Sun Community College and the University of Calgary, this pilot program of archaeological training worked to increase capacity within the Siksika community to be involved in heritage programs.
HC: What’s your background in this area?
There were a number of members in the community who helped bring the project to life. The course curriciulum was co-created by University of Calgary archaeological field school director Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer and Old Sun Community College Instructors Vivian Ayoungman, Leon Crane Bear and Kent Ayoungman.
HC: What inspired you to do this work?
The team was inspired to do this work in order to provide experiential learning and skills training to First Nations students to support industry related archaeological projects. Further, providing an environment on ancestral land to learn archaeological skills within the context of First Nations cultural and ceremonial background was very important to the whole team, to help inform what they were seeing at the excavation site.
Elder Gwen Bear Chief Examines Projectile Point. Courtesy of University of Calgary / Old Sun Community College.
HC: Why is sharing stories about heritage important to you?
Combining ancestral knowledge and storytelling with technical archaeological skills can provide incredible opportunities for Old Sun students to get a sense of the field. The teams wanted to get people invested and aware of the field, and able to do the work with a strong cultural understanding of their work.
The field school incorporated many teachable moments, with Elders on-site, and the first week of learning taking place in a tipi, providing foundational understanding in a very traditional way.
HC: What’s something specific you would like people to know about your work?
The team indicated that coming together of the technical and cultural side of knowledge was so vital towards creating strong meaning and understanding. Both of the post-secondary institutions involved brought their own ways of learning to create a stronger, common purpose.
HC: What’s something people might be surprised to know or learn about your project?
Dr. Peter Dawson shared that, while not surprising, it was evident that the student presentations at the end of the field school were very strong, noting they were naturals – drawn to the field and towards learning more about the field of archaeology and their culture.
HC: Could you describe what “heritage”means to you in one word?
For the group, heritage means many things: It encompasses history, culture and wisdom. It comes down to stories about the past, wisdom, stories and identity.
Theo Maguire Excavating a Hearth Feature at EePf-54. Courtesy of University of Calgary / Old Sun Community College.
“Statue of lion on Centre Street bridge, Calgary, Alberta.” 1977. NA-2399-91. Courtesy the Glenbow Digital Collection, University of Calgary.