Many Indigenous communities have little to no access to the material remains of their ancestors, due to the colonial structures that define ownership and stewardship over historical resources in Canada. For the Métis Nation, the challenges of colonial history and the dispossession of the Métis communities have meant that they are not always considered in conversations around repatriation and access to ancestral belongings. In response to the lack of access to archaeological and ethnographic data for the Métis, we are creating a digital archive of Métis archaeological materials, integrating legacy collections and newly generated data into a database that is accessible to community partners, researchers, and, where appropriate, broader audiences. This is an important step towards the long-term goal of a complete archive of Métis archaeological and ethnographic materials from western Canada that will provide the Métis community with access to their own heritage and the belongings of their ancestors.

Zoom Joining Details

Please contact Andrew Martindale (andrew.martindale@ubc.ca) to get an e-invite to the series. Zoom joining link: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/64598952677

Organized by the Indigenous/Science Research Cluster