Birch Island: The Archaeology and Memory of Resettlement

Summary

Archaeology has the ability to bring people together and assist communities in creating their own historical narrative so it can be passed on and acknowledged, corrected and recorded, within and outside of their community. My work in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador on an archaeological site that only ended occupation in the late 1960s facilitates the formalization of the historical narrative of the former Birch Island community through archaeology, historical research and personal interviews. Community members who once lived on the island will be invited to excavate with us in addition to participating in formal and informal interviews to get a better picture of what life was like when the community flourished. All the information gathered will be available for public use and historical plaques will be placed at the site to inform and commemorate the area. By actively seeking out these open lines of communication and engagement, we are decreasing our own bias and allowing for a more engaging, meaningful and accurate interpretation of places that have a living history for those connected to it.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Mobilizing the Past: Archaeology as Activism

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16358