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Integrating Remote Sensing and Indigenous Archaeology to Locate Unmarked Graves

A Case Study from Northern Alberta, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2021

William T. D. Wadsworth Open the ORCID record for William T. D. Wadsworth [Opens in a new window] ,
Kisha Supernant ,
Ave Dersch  and
the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation
William T. D. Wadsworth*
Affiliation:
Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, 13-15 Tory Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H4, Canada
Kisha Supernant
Affiliation:
Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, 13-15 Tory Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H4, Canada
Ave Dersch
Affiliation:
Moccasin Flower Consulting Inc., Box 134, Slave Lake, Alberta, T0G 2A0, Canada
the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation
Affiliation:
General Delivery Chard, Alberta, T0P 1G0, Canada
*
(wwadswor@ualberta.ca, corresponding author)
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Abstract

Archaeologists have long been called on to use geophysical techniques to locate unmarked graves in both archaeological and forensic contexts. Although these techniques—primarily ground-penetrating radar (GPR)—have demonstrated efficacy in this application, there are fewer examples of studies driven by Indigenous community needs. In North America, the location of ancestors and burial grounds is a priority for most Indigenous communities. We argue that when these Indigenous voices are equitably included in research design, the practice of remote sensing changes and more meaningful collaborations ensue. Drawing on Indigenous archaeology and heart-centered practices, we argue that remote-sensing survey methodologies, and the subsequent narratives produced, need to change. These approaches change both researchers’ and Indigenous communities’ relationships to the work and allow for the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in interpretation. In this article, we discuss this underexplored research trajectory, explain how it relates to modern GPR surveys for unmarked graves, and present the results from a survey conducted at the request of the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation. Although local in nature, we discuss potential benefits and challenges of Indigenous remote sensing collaborations, and we engage larger conversations happening in Indigenous communities around the ways these methods can contribute to reconciliation and decolonization.

Les archéologues ont longtemps été appelés à utiliser des techniques géophysiques pour localiser des sépultures non marquées dans des contextes archéologiques et médico-légaux. Bien que l'efficacité de ces techniques, comme le géoradar (GPR) ait été démontrée, les exemples d'application de techniques géophysiques pour répondre aux besoins des communautés autochtones sont plus rares. En Amérique du Nord, le lieu de repos d'ancêtres et les lieux de sépulture sont une priorité pour la plupart des communautés autochtones. Nous affirmons que lorsque les voix autochtones sont incluses de manière équitable dans la conception d'un projet de recherche, l'usage et l'expérience de la télédétection changent et des collaborations plus significatives s'ensuivent. En nous inspirant de l'archéologie autochtone (Indigenous archaeology) et des pratiques centrées sur le cœur (heart-centered practices) nous affirmons que la pratique de la télédétection ainsi que les interprétations qui en résultent doivent changer. Ces approches modifient le rapport qu'entretiennent les chercheurs et les communautés autochtones avec la recherche et permettent l'intégration des savoirs autochtones dans les interprétations (Indigenous Knowledge). Dans cet article, nous discutons du potentiel de cette approche, de son lien avec les relevés GPR modernes pour les sépultures non marquées, et présentons les résultats d'une enquête menée à la demande de la Première Nation Chipewyan Prairie (Chipewyan Prairie First Nation). Bien qu'une enquête de nature locale, nous discutons des avantages et des défis potentiels de projets de collaboration avec les autochtones utilisant la télédétection, et nous engageons les conversations plus étendues des communautés autochtones sur la façon dont ces méthodes peuvent contribuer à la réconciliation et à la décolonisation.

Keywords

Indigenous archaeologyGPRremote sensingcommunity-drivencollaborationdecolonizationunmarked gravesDeneAlbertaCanadaarchéologie autochtonegéoradartélédétectionarchéologie communautairecollaborationdécolonisationsépultures non marquéesDénésAlbertaCanada
Type
Article
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 9 , Special Issue 3: NDN Communities and Remote Sensing Techniques , August 2021 , pp. 202 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology

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