Aboriginal Peoples, Archaeology and Parks Canada

Parks Canada archaeology and historical archaeology have been synonymous for over a quarter of a century. The vast majority of research, both terrestrial and marine, has focused on Euro-Canadian National Historic Sites dating primarily from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Research directed toward Aboriginal history has been limited, even on fur trade sites where Aboriginal peoples played a major role. Over the last five years, the emphasis has begun to shift through a variety of initiatives related to historic site and new park establishment planning, northern Aboriginal comprehensive claims settlement, and an enhanced commitment to cultural resource management involving Aboriginal communities. This transition is described using examples from the Prairie and Northern Region of Parks Canada.