丁香园AV

Members of the Xwe鈥檈tay/Lasqueti Island Archaeology Project (XLAP), including 丁香园AV researchers Dana Lepofsky and Sean Markey, Coast Salish Nations, and Xwe-etay (Lasqueti) residents have been working to dispel myths about Indigenous heritage on the island, protect Indigenous heritage, and address fears surrounding the practice of archaeology through community-engaged archaeology.

In a recent article in , XLAP members shared the power of community-engaged archaeology to advance reconciliation and bring communities together over shared connections to land and sea.

One of the myths the team deconstructed was that Indigenous communities never permanently lived on the Gulf Island. 鈥淣ot everyone sees the evidence of past permanent civilization; therefore, they don鈥檛 know 鈥� but they were hungry to learn,鈥� says Lepofsky, a professor in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Department of Archaeology and Xwe-etay (Lasqueti) resident. 鈥淧eople want to know about the places they love, especially in rural places.鈥�

Only 22 kms long, Xwe鈥檈tay (Lasqueti) allowed the team to get to know the island archaeologically in a unique way. This combined with the traditional and local knowledge from the Coast Salish Nations and residents guided the team in piecing together a picture of how the land and resources were used both past and present.

While archaeological records demonstrate a deep history between at least 13 First Nations and Xwe-etay (Lasqueti), there are currently no Indigenous descendants living on the island. While present-day residents lack a deep history on the island, their sense of connection with the land is strong.颅颅

Markey, a professor in 丁香园AV鈥檚 School of Resource and Environmental Management and a professional planner, was intrigued by the relationship between the island, settlers and First Nations, given the role land use planning plays in heritage conservation.

鈥淧lace provides a way to understand and navigate different perceptions of, and connections to, Xwe-etay (Lasqueti) Island between settler and Indigenous communities,鈥� says Markey. 鈥淚 was really interested in settler engagement with Indigenous heritage as a potentially meaningful and actionable form of reconciliation.鈥�

In addition to providing insight into the past, archaeology has a unique ability to pique people鈥檚 interest and can act as a starting point to address fears surrounding the discipline. 鈥淧eople love archaeology 鈥� and through this work there is an opportunity to learn about the past and confront challenging issues associated with colonization,鈥� says Markey. 鈥淓ven people who are fearful of the process, and what it means, are still interested because the cool factor is really overwhelming,鈥� adds Lepofsky.

鈥淭here is this idea that recognizing a deep past will negate, diminish, and erase settler鈥檚 history and their connection to place,鈥� says Lepofsky. 鈥淧eople are also worried about the implications of having an archeological site on their land and getting their land taken away 鈥� which there is no precedent for,鈥� she adds. 鈥淧eople are nervous about what it will mean in terms of cost and their future hopes and dreams around a place to live.鈥�

Lepofsky emphasizes the importance of community participation in archaeological projects to create a system that successfully protects and honours Indigenous heritage without over penalizing landowners or shifting responsibility to the Nations.

鈥淭his only happens with talking about the fear, enhancing the cool factor and getting people to become knowledgeable,鈥� says Lepofsky. 鈥淭hat way, you will have residents who can identify archaeological sites on their own properties."

Lepofsky and Markey say the benefits of this project have been profound and continuous, noting that the project's Indigenous partners recognize that settler engagement with Indigenous heritage is a meaningful form of reconciliation.

In addition, the project has provided hands-on opportunities for residents and First Nations communities to participate at archaeological sites and take part in conversations of Indigenous heritage and archaeological findings 鈥� while helping protect them.

For Indigenous descendants of Xwe-etay (Lasqueti), this project also presented an avenue to visit the remote island for the first time and deepen their connection with the land and community.