Above, Beneath, and Within: Collaborative and Community-Driven Archaeological Remote Sensing Research in Canada

• Author / Creator

  Wadsworth, William T. D.

• This thesis investigates the application of geophysics and remote sensing techniques in community-driven and collaborative archaeology research in Canada. While these techniques have become common among some archaeologists, they have yet to be extensively used within the lens of Indigenous archaeology. In the introductory chapters, I present the current Canadian context and review the theory, method and application of these techniques to archaeology. I argue for a reconsideration of how these techniques are applied and interpreted within Indigenous contexts, specifically, where these applications have fallen short and how these techniques impact and are shaped by modern Indigenous communities. I propose a methodological approach that incorporates multiple lines of evidence, Indigenous knowledge, and Indigenous archaeology principles, as a potential ‘middle range’ solution. To illustrate how this approach can be applied with Indigenous communities in Canada, I present the methods and results of three community-driven unmarked grave surveys and two collaborative archaeology projects. Drawing on these case studies, I demonstrate 1) that these techniques are effective at contributing to common community-based research goals in a wide range of sites and environments, 2) there are unique factors present when working with Indigenous communities that need to be reflected in and balanced by research designs, 3) the incorporation of multiple lines of evidence and collaborations with Indigenous communities will result in more holistic, meaningful, and co-produced narratives for communities and researchers, and 4) when framed and designed in an engaged and respectful way, archaeological remote sensing can contribute to modern Indigenous communities’ needs and objectives.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Indigenous
  • Métis
  • Remote Sensing
  • Community-Driven
  • Alberta
  • Canada
  • British Columbia
  • Saskatchewan
  • First Nations
  • Geophysics
  • Landscape
  • Archaeology
  • Collaborative

• Graduation date

  Spring 2020

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-mrdq-bf26

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.