Simon Fraser teams up with society for dig

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Craig Duck Chief readily agrees the artifacts he and other archaeology students are uncovering are not on par with the grand discoveries that have come out of Egypt, but nonetheless, the finds are important.

The bones, beads, stone tools and jewelry are historical proof the Secwepemc people and, in particular, those living in the Kamloops area along the Thompson River valley, did not just live by the water and survive on fish for their food. They also migrated to the sandy terraces or the area depending on the climate and fish cycles.

"We're looking at things a lot differently than just pit houses and salmon," Duck Chief said while taking a break from scraping away dirt in his two-metre by two-metre dig site. He turns his attention to the river, more than 50 metres away from the spot where he is standing. "We can't say for sure why they came up here, but it is a better view point and it's cooler up here than at the bottom, that may be another reason."

Duck Chief is a member of the Siksika Nation, located east of Calgary. He is one of about 20 students spending seven weeks doing an archaeology field study offered through Secwepemc Cultural Education Society's partnership with Simon Fraser University.

The collaboration dates back to 1989 when the two organizations decided to provide post-secondary courses, not only directed at First Nations, but administered by Native people as well. Where possible, instruction is provided by instructors of First Nations ancestry. The field study became a natural extension of SCES-SFU's archaeology offerings in 1991.

Students receive 14 credits for completing the course, which is open to everyone regardless of Aboriginal ancestry and their degree of archaeology training. This year it finishes mid-June.

George Nicholas is overseeing the field school in addition to being SFU's associate professor for the archaeology, sociology and anthropology departments.

In the field school's nine years, much evidence has been gathered to answer the question: "How did cultures respond to different environmental situations?"

If the numerous artifacts could speak, they would tell a story of how Native people adapted to the various conditions nature threw their way, Nicholas said.

The fire-cracked rocks found in circular formations and scorched earth are obvious indicators of fire pits. Animal bones and shell fragments show meals were prepared and eaten there. Small stone tools and rock fragments all lead the archaeologists to conclude life was not always lived at the river's edge. Rocks have also been found in tight circles and indicate they were used as braces for tipi poles.

Duck Chief is hopeful digs that try to answer questions about First Nations go a long way to proving to non-Native people that the phrase "traditional territory" is not one created as a means to acquire land and money from governments.

"This helps people realize First Nations had a strong presence in the area and it's important for (First Nations) leaders and it's very useful backup to the oral histories."

In working towards answering the question, Nicholas said the field schools want to also address three sub-points: to discover whether people lived along the glacial terraces along the Thompson River valley 6,000 to 10,500 years ago, to investigate the long-term patterns of land-use in the Thompson River valley and how prehistoric people used the land, and to examine the non-pit houses to get a more representative picture of the life of those who inhabited the area.

To properly put the pieces together, it's important to take good notes at regular intervals as the ground (which could be as little as years or centuries old) is carefully scraped away. It is an onerous task, but one that will pay off at the time of translating the information into report form. Artifacts are carefully plotted on a graph to show the exact location in the dig site.

Through scraping and sifting of dirt, students are also learning what plants were use and what roles they played in the ancient cultures.

"This represents a vital part of the histories of the people who have lived here for thousands of years," Nicholas explained. "We want to know what life was like."

Amidst the exciting discoveries, though, is the knowledge that this may be the final opportunity to make discoveries in this area. An agreement between the Kamloops Indian Band and builders of Sun Rivers, a resort-style development, will mean the area will soon be landscaped or covered with housing. Though heart-breaking, Nicholas understands the tightrope-like struggle many bands face finding a balance between preservation and attracting long-term dollars in order to move away from governmental dependence.

See Secwepemc page 15.)

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"We have to do as much recording and writing as we can because this may be the only time someone records the site and does careful note-taking."

Sharon Doucet is of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation of Vancouver Island and participated in last year's dig. Though not from the area, she is excited to be among those who are proving that the Secwepemc people along the Thompson River valley were part of a versatile and resilient culture.

"This is absolutely vital to the Shuswap people to know they were here, to know this is their country. This is their land. This is their traditional territory."

Someday, Doucet said, she would like to take her experience and unearth the mysteries of her own people.

"Ultimately, my goal would be to do work in my hometown."

Prior to leaving each summer, the dig sites are filled and a tobacco ceremony performed. Nicholas credits Eldon Yellowhorn, his teaching assistant in 1992, for starting the tradition.

"Although my worldview is different from the Secwepemc's," Nicholas wrote in the journal Society for American Archaeology, "the offering is given as an expression of respect for these people, both past and present, and of a continuing commitment to their heritage."