Donald S. Johnson examining cairn constructed by the crew of the RCMP schooner " St. Roch " in 1940-41, Winter Cove, Walker Bay.

Archaeological investigations (in conjunction with sociocultural investigations, Hamlet of Holman, Victoria Island, N.W.T.), were initiated between July 30th and August 15th, 2003 in the Winter Cove area, Walker Bay, Victoria Island, N.W.T.   The archaeological investigations represent the initial field season in a proposed two-year project, and focus on an assessment of mid-19th century direct and indirect contact & intersocietal interaction between historic northern Copper Inuit groups and the Royal Navy vessels H.M.S. Enterprise and H.M.S. Investigator in northwestern Victoria Island. Specifically, the project is the first to systematically examine possible changes in northern Copper Inuit   material culture, intra- and intergroup material trade systems and social relations resulting from direct and indirect contact with elements of the Royal Navy on Victoria Island. Additionally, these investigations also examined sites directly associated with the 1851-52 "wintering" of H.M.S. Enterprise at Winter Cove.

Field surveys were conducted in the immediate Winter Cove area - including Flagstaff Hill - and at several (unnamed) inland lakes south and southeast of Winter Cove. A total of approximately 30 sites, comprising historic Copper Inuit tent rings and caches, Royal Navy habitation, burial, cache and survey features and several mid-20 th century habitation and survey features associated with the 1940-41 "wintering" of the R.C.M.P. Schooner St. Roch in Winter Cove, were recorded.

A view, looking north toward Flagstaff Hill, of the project's field camp, Winter Cove, Walker Bay.

The nature and amount of data collected varied according to project research plans, though random sampling was conducted at each site, and all features were recorded in detail. The items recovered from sites also varied, although 19 th century manufactured metals, glass, and wood predominated.   In some cases, evidence of modification of manufactured materials into projectile points and uniface cutting implements was present. All recovered items are now undergoing conservation procedures.

Preliminary results of these field surveys suggest that Northern Copper Inuit groups interacting with the officers and crew of H.M.S. Enterprise in the Winter Cove, Walker Bay area ca. 1851-52 acquired significant amounts of manufactured items. Many of these items were modified into tools and introduced into the material culture of these groups.   Similarly, it can also be suggested that these items were "filtered" into intra- and intergroup trade systems of the Walker Bay and Minto Inlet areas thereby contributing to changes in traditional social interaction.

The project has received the strong support of the Holman Community Corporation, and the Olokhaktomiut Hunters & Trappers Committee, Holman, Victoria Island, N.W.T.   Aaron Kimiksana and Tony Alanak of Holman and Ethan Applegarth of Idyllwild, California, served as Research Assistants.   Donald Inuktalik, Jack Kataoyak and Helen Kimiksana provided other invaluable support in the field and in Holman. The following institutions and individuals have contributed support, expertise and guidance:

Inuvialuit Land Administration; Aurora Research Institute; Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre; Joint-Faculty Research Ethics Board, University of Manitoba, Dr. Jill Oakes, Department of Native Studies, University of Manitoba; Dr. Rick Riewe, Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba; Dr. William "Skip" Koolage, Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba; Dr. James Savelle, Department of Anthropology, McGill University; Vermillion Community College, Ely, Minnesota; and Gerard and Nan Snyder, Montpelier Station, Virginia.