Available On Demand
The province of British Columbia has a rich cultural heritage, represented in part by archaeological sites and other non-renewable cultural resources which are numerous and widespread. Public and private sector land-use planners, development managers, and field technicians are required to comply with legislation that exists to protect this legacy. Training is required, for people who will manage cultural resources responsibly. The proposed course of two days duration is intended for staff making land-use decisions based on interaction with First Nations, consultants and their reports, and the provincial Archaeology Branch. The course is delivered on location for small groups and includes reading materials provided in advance, lectures supported by visual materials, and a field visit to a local archaeology site in a management context. Participants are given the opportunity to explore specific case studies and issues during facilitated discussion.
AGENDA
Day 1: Classroom
An introductory lecture will review the prehistory and history of British Columbia according to complementary perspectives including archaeological science and First Nations oral tradition. The history of contact, colonialism and the treaty process to the present day is presented objectively, focusing on the issue of cultural legacy, continuity and rebirth for First Nations communities. The Heritage Conservation Act specifies various processes such as permits, by which archaeological sites are identified, documented, registered, protected, and managed. This portion of the lecture material describes the interaction between the administrative Archaeology Branch, and other government agencies including First Nations, professional archaeologists, First Nations government, private land owners, developers and industry. The day will conclude with a brief review of the previously distributed reading materials, a briefing for the field trip and an anecdotal sharing of field work stories.
Day 2: Classroom/Field
Cultural resource management issues and processes will be introduced with realistic hypothetical case studies. Examples will include forestry developments where potential CMTs are noted by engineers, a previously recorded midden which may be impacted by a housing development on private land, a First Nation which protests the activities of a tourism operator who includes a burial cave and abandoned village sites in a kayak tour. The emphasis of this portion is on responsibility and due diligence. The course will conclude in the classroom with a discussion of going beyond what is required by the HCA and Forest Act, and protecting sites for long-term educational, recreational and aesthetic values.
