BC "Rock" Stars: The Next Generation

Summary

This presentation will showcase a cultural rediscovery and ethnoarchaeology project taking place in Kitasoo/Xai Xais Nations’ traditional territory on the Central Coast of BC in the town of Klemtu. In 2016, First Nations youth created a pictograph in their community using traditional materials and subject matter. The first painting of its kind in this area for approximately one hundred years, it is a significant statement on the landscape. By encouraging youth to engage with archaeologists and embrace practices of their ancestors, the concept of conserving the very art form of creating rock art will be explored. Education and mentorship will be considered as core values which encourage conservation and stewardship. From sourcing pigments, researching designs and testing paint recipes, this project is the culmination of three years of youth-driven research.

The archaeology and conservation approaches of North America differ significantly from European rock art conservation measures because of the cultural-continuity and contribution of the Indigenous descendant communities archaeologists are privileged to work with. As with the example of totem pole decomposition in BC, conservation, in this specific instance, does not necessarily mean direct preservation of the archaeological record, rather, by preserving the practice, knowledge is conserved for future generations.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Contemporary Issues in Rock Art Conservation and Preservation

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15115