Stitching History and Archaeology: New Investigations into the Chimney Coulee (DjOe-6) Métis Wintering Site

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Our understanding of the Métis experience on the Canadian prairies during the latter half of the 19th-century can be considered fragmentary and is typically understood alongside a colonial narrative. Métis wintering sites were important features in the Canadian west where the role of women cannot be downplayed despite being rarely investigated. Current theoretical frameworks in historical archaeology are aimed to bring out the narratives and daily activities of peoples marginalized by history. Successful investigations into the Chimney Coulee (DjOe-6) Métis wintering site in southwestern Saskatchewan have uncovered remarkable evidence that greatly expands our knowledge of the Métis lived experience at this site. Recorded oral histories surrounding this site are complimented and woven together with new historical research which reveals a comprehensive new perspective. Archaeological finds from a Métis cabin have brought to life the craftwork and daily activities of women. Investigations at this site have strengthen the historical and archaeological evidence known from other wintering sites and highlighted the crucial role that women played in maintaining the day to day functions of the settlement during the waning days of the Canadian fur trade.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24167