Tsimshian Archaeology: 50 Years of Research and 10,000 years of History

Modern archaeological research began in the Prince Rupert Harbour area of Tsimshian Territory in 1966 with research from the National Museum of Canada (now the Canadian Museum of History) and supported by Tsimshian people and their governments. This work framed archaeological research across Tsimshian territory including the lands of the Nine Tribes (Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams), Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Gitxaala, Gitksan, and Gitga’at and developed the careers of many of the luminaries of archaeology and related fields. Their research and that of the generations of scholars they mentored have been at the forefront of interpretive and methodological developments and have advanced the understanding of Tsimshian archaeology and history. This session brings together case studies of leading edge genomic analysis, household archaeology, oral history analyses, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, ethnographic comparisons, Indigenous critique, spatial analysis, and radiocarbon modeling, showcasing the legacy of a half-century of partnership between different disciplines and communities in one of the world’s most well-known research programs.