Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Goose Lake

        An archaeological assessment of proposed development facilities associated with the Arauco Resources Limited Goose Lake Project was conducted by Gloria J. Fedirchuk and Wendy J. Unfreed of Fedirchuk McCullough & Associates Ltd, Calgary, Alberta.  Examined in some detail were two potential mine locations, two potential airstrips and a camp.  An overview of a potential winter road between Goose Lake west and north to Beechey Lake was also completed and consisted of a helicopter over-flight and ground visitation of three areas along Beechey Lake.

        No archaeological or historic sites were identified in association with the proposed facilities or along the proposed winter road.  However, a large stone feature site was identified by the helicopter pilot, Ralph Ronza.  The site, on the Western River. was visited and recorded.  It is not associated with the proposed Goose Lake Project facilities.  

Lac de Gras

        An archaeological assessment was conducted by Gloria J. Fedirchuk, Fedirchuk McCullough & Associates Ltd., Calgary, Alberta on a group of small islands which occur within the area proposed by Diavik Diamonds Mines Inc. for development.  Two Yellowknife Elders, Therese Sangris and Jonas Fishbone, and  interpreter Christine Allen participated in the field assessment.  Three larger and four smaller islands were examined for signs of previous occupation and use.  Neither archaeological nor historical sites were identified during the field visit.

Harvaqtuuq Historic Site, Kazan River

        A three-week survey was done on the western half of the Fall Caribou Crossing National Historic Site.  This was the second year of a two-year effort by Parks Canada and the Harvaqtuuq Historic Site Committee of Baker Lake to document archaeological resources in this newly-designated Historic Site, which extends for 40 km along the Harvaqtuuq--the lower Kazan River.

        Nearly 600 archaeological features were recorded this year, resulting in a total of about 1300 features for the entire Historic Site. These features are boulder structures (tent rings, caches, inuksuit, blinds, hearths, qajaq stands, and other types of constructions) as well as concentrations of artifacts and animal bone.  They are visible on the ground surface, particularly on upland terrain where distribution of sediment and vegetation on the bedrock is thin.  Like last year, features were located using a Leica Wild 200 Global Positioning System (GPS) with daily processing of data to establish their positions to within less than a metre.

        Dense concentrations of features were recorded at caribou crossings on Thirty Mile Lake. They included tent rings and qarmat-type dwellings in boulder fields containing musk-ox as well as caribou bone.  The Baker Lake elders' advisory committee approved the collection of animal bone from select features in order to address questions about hunting in the past.  For instance, how did differences in season affect the hunting, butchering and caching of meat?  We know from elders that making dry meat in spring was very different from caching meat during fall.  How did this affect the types of bones found in caches and tent rings?  Max Friesen, a member of the Parks Canada team that carried out the survey, collected caribou bone and is analysing this collection at the University of Toronto.

        Elders Luke Tunguaq and Elizabeth Tunnuq and oral historians Joan Scottie and Darren Keith accompanied archaeologists to former spring and summer camps where elders discussed different types of features including unique or unusual ones.  Among the latter were artifacts and cobble patterns left by children as well as an eight metre long line of paired boulders for straightening wood for qajaq-building. Elders distinguished dry meat, fresh meat and equipment cache structures.  Among many perishable remains were fragments of a willow mat (qilaktat) inside a tent ring.

        Since 1993 when this work began, the archaeological research has been closely coordinated with oral history and place name recording under the guidance of an elders advisory committee in Baker Lake. The final report on archaeology, being prepared by consultant Andrew Stewart, will include results of analysis of settlement patterns, faunal remains and Harvaqtuurmiut land use as it is presently understood from the oral histories.

Arvia'juaq National Historic Site

       "We want to make good use of the artifacts that are on the ground. We don't want them to be left while there are elders around to interpret them. This can be used to determine the history and life in Inuit past. "  Martina Anoee, Arviat elder

         These words capture the primary goal of the archaeological work done on Arvia'juaq National Historic Site during the summer of 1997. Arviat elders consider themselves the last who know of their traditional life.  They wanted to excavate on Arvia'juaq to provide their interpretation of found artifacts, and to pass this knowledge to the next generation to ensure it is not lost.

        With the help of Arviat residents, Ronald Suluk, Joe Arloo, Paul Komak, and Norman Igloopialiak, a Thule tent ring and a Caribou Inuit tent ring were excavated.  These tent rings were chosen with the help of Martina Anoee, who described how the tents were spatially organized.  Excavations then proceed around this information.

        All cultural material is being cleaned, catalogued, and organized into a geographic information system.  After preliminary analysis is completed, elders will describe the use and possibly the development of individual artifacts. The elders' traditional knowledge, incorporated with archaeological analysis of present and past excavations, will continue to document Inuit life at Arvia'juaq National Historic Site.

East of Bathurst Inlet

        Gabriella Prager of Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd., Langley, BC continued an inventory and impact assessment east of Bathurst Inlet; 23 sites near areas of possible development were also tested.  The work was carried out for BHP World Minerals which is exploring for gold in the area.  Specific locations were surveyed within an area extending from Roberts Bay (off Melville Sound) 60 kilometres south, including a portion of the Koignuk River, to a large lake known locally as Spyder Lake.  Brian Akoluk, a student from Bathurst Inlet, assisted with the work.

        Forty-three new sites were recorded; most had multiple features.  Several large sites which comprise a number of tent rings, caches, and large quantities of bone were found in the vicinity of Spyder Lake, indicating repeated and/or long-term use.  Numerous rock features were recorded, including tent rings, traps, caches, hearths/windbreaks, signal rocks and hunting blinds.  The sites with rock features appear to range in age from Thule to historic times.  In addition, several sites contained chert flakes and one site revealed buried stone tools, including chert microblades and a possible burin, suggestive of the Palaeo-Eskimo period.

        A good portion of the sites contain at least some bone, mainly caribou; one site on Spyder Lake contained large amounts of buried bone, suggesting repeated use of that location, possibly over a long period of time.  Several sites revealed bone and stone artifacts, and a number had historic artifacts.  The low artifact yield indicates that most of these sites were occupied for short periods of time, although many may have been occupied repeatedly.  The large number of sites (100 over three seasons) shows that this area has been intensively used in the past.

North of Lac de Gras

        Jean Bussey of Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd., Langley, BC directed archaeological investigations for BHP Diamonds Inc. in its claim block north of Lac de Gras.  She was assisted by Gabriella Prager, Brian Apland, Carol Rushland as well as Camilia Zoe-Chocolate of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and Bernice and Berna Francois of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.  This was the fourth year of work and 30 new sites were added to the previous inventory of 87.  In addition, excavations were conducted at three sites threatened by the proposed development of an open pit mine.  During a second trip to the study area, the locations of 94 sites were accurately determined using an advanced Global Positioning System (GPS); this is intended to ensure that site boundaries can be identified and avoided even under snow cover.

         The emphasis of the project has been on surveying areas near proposed developments and exploration.  As a result, the shores of large and small lakes and a variety of different landforms have been examined.  The majority of the sites have been associated with eskers and esker remnants.  The sites found in 1997 were on several portions of the claim block, including two areas that had not been previously examined.  Fifteen sites were located on eskers and esker remnants near Yamba Lake in the northwestern portion of the study area and three were found in the southwestern portion.  Two sites were found on a large esker, locally called the Misery Esker in the southeastern portion of the study area.  Two sites were found on a discontinuous section of esker east of the Ekati Diamond Mine; another was on an esker remnant to the north of the mine.  Six new sites were found on the esker between Exeter and Ursula Lakes.  Investigations of a limited section of the shore of Lac de Gras yielded a single site.  All sites are characterized by unworked stone flakes and they range in size from very small to very large, containing light to dense concentrations of artifacts.

        The sites known as LdNs-16, 17 and 18 are located near the road and camp of the proposed open pit mine in the southeastern portion of the study area, near the south end of the Misery Esker.  Excavations were undertaken at these sites and varying quantities of lithic material were recovered, primarily unworked quartzite.  Analysis of these materials will be undertaken during the winter.

Ekati Diamond Mine

        Christopher Hanks, BHP Diamonds Inc. also held a Northwest Territories Archaeologists Permit as part of the site management programme for the Ekati Diamond Mine.  The permit was to be used to conduct short surveys to investigate proposed changes in the footprint of the mine and in the eventuality that a previously unrecorded site was discovered.  Before beginning any investigation under either of these circumstances, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre was to be notified.

        A joint project was conducted with the Yellowknives Dene Traditional Knowledge Study.  This study is related to the development of the Ekati Diamond Mine.  BHP staff worked with Yellowknives Dene elders to examine a site they traditionally used at Pointe de Misère on Lac de Gras, and to confirm the location of a grave remembered by elders near the narrows of Lac du Sauvage.

Hanningayup Hivogani Tahik

        Ona otokanik engilgaaknitanik ehivgiokhivioyuk nalvakhiokvigivlogo enitoklikonik kakogo oyagakhiokvioyumakmat oyagakhioktinit okoa Kitikpagiakmiot Oyagakhioktit ovalo Tahikmi Oyagakhiogomakmata Hannigayup hivogaani ona inuk ehivgiokhiok Gloria J. Fedirchuk onalo Wendy J. Unfreed okoa Fedirchuk McCulloguh & Associates Ltd, Calgary, Alberta-miotat.  Ehivgioktait enitoklikot hannianeenmata malgok oyakikivikhap, malgoklo milvikhak ovalo tupikakvikhak.  Tamaiata ehivgioktait emakak okiomi apkotikakvikhak aghalutinot Omonga Hannigayup hivogani tahikmi tonomot tonongani Hannigayup eniktait ovlao halikaptakot ehivgioktait ovalo pihokgogolo pingahot Hanningayumi takoyaktoktait.

        Allanik otokanik naliak enitoklikonik takongitot talvani ehivigiokhiyaktogamik oyagakhiokvikhanik ovlao talvani apkohiokvikhami okiomi atoktokhamik.  Kihime, ona angiok oyagak takoyat halikaptap tingmialikiop, Ralp Ronza.  Ona inukholik, ovani Kilohiktop Kugani nuna polaktaoyuk titigaktaovloni.  Ona ehoilimaitok oyagakhioknahoakata.

Lac de Gras

        Ona nuna ehivgioktat enitoklikagiakhat okonanga Gloria J. Fedirchuk, Fedirchuk McCullough & Associates Ltd. Calgary, Alberta okoa kaffit kikiktat tahikmi ehivgioktait tahamani nunami okoa Diavik Diamonds Mines Inc. oyakikivigiomakmatjuk.  Malgok Yelonaimiotak enutokak, Theresa Sangris onalo Jonas Fishbone, onalo okaktiat Christine Allen elaoyut ehivgioktonit nunanik. Pingahot angiot ovalo hitamat kikiktat ehivgioktait enitoklikagiakhaita otokanik ovalo atoktaovagiakhaita inuknit.  Talvani enitoklikonik takongitot talvani takoyaktoktaokmat.

Tonongani Lac de Gras

        Jean Bussey ona Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd., Langley, BC otokanik ehivgiokhipkaivaktok havaktitat BHP Diamonds Inc. oyagakhiokvikhak pihimayat tonongani Lac de Gras. Talvani ekayukhiktok Gabriella Prager, Brian Apland Carol Rushland onalo Camilia Zoe-Chocolate okoa itkiliit Dogrib Treaty 11 eligiit onalo Bernice onalo Berna Francois Yelonaimiotat Itkiliit Eligiit.  Ona hitamagiliktat okionga havaktot ehivgiokhivlotik ovalo 30-nik nutaanik takoyut enitoklikonik ova 87 takolgaktait.  Hammalo, nunat ehivgioktait pingahot nunat ahigoktaonahokoknakmata oyagakhioktonit nunap kanganik algakniakmata.  Talvani malgoani takoyaktoigamik nunamik, 94 nunat titigaktait enitoklikoit ehivgiokhogo Nunanik Naonaiyaotinik (GPS); hamna nunap kiglinga naonaiyakhogo ovalo apotip eloani ehoiktailivlogo.

       Ona ehivgioktat havakhak ehivgioktat hanianiitma oyagakhiokvikhap ovalo nalvakhiokvioniaktok.  Ematot inmat, tahit angiot ovalo mikkaitlo hinnaagit ehivgioktaoyut allatkiit nunat ehivgioktaoyut titigakhogit. Tabkoa ehivgioktait nunat kemmiklogotat nunat okoalo kengaotat ehivgioktaoyut.  Tabkoa nalvakvioyut ovani 1997-mi kaffit nunat okokanik talvani oyagakhioktit nappakohiktokhimayaitni, malgok ehivgioktaohimaitok nalvaktait enitoklikot.  Fipteet nalvaktait kemmiklogotani ovalo kengaotani hanniani Yamba Lake tonongani ovalo pingahottaok nalvaktaoyut hivogani.  Malgok nunak nalvakvioyuk otokanik kengaotami kivatani Ekati Diamond Mine; aipalo kengaotami tonongani oyagakhiokvikhap.  Siksit nutat nalvakmiyait kengaotami Exeter ovanilo Ursula Lake-mi.  Ehivgioktait kaffit hinaani Lac de Gras-mi ataohikmik nannihiot enitoklikomik.  Tamaita enitoklikot nannihivioyut oyagakakhotik engilgotinik ova elait mikkait elangitlo angiot oyakkat, amigaitonik hannalgotiminikaktot.

        Okoa elihimayaoyut  emaitot LdNs-16, 17 onalo 18 naniyait haniani apkotip ovalo tupikakviitlo kangani oyakikiviop hivogani ehivgiokhiviop, haniani tonongani Misery Kengaotap.  Algakhogit ehivgioktait hapkoa enitoklikakviminiit ovalo honakovaloknik amohivigiyait, tabkoa kovikhanik. Hapkoa oyakat amoyaoniaktot okiokat.

Ekati Diamond Oyakikivikhak

        Christopher Hanks, BHP Diamonds Inc. ovalo pikatoavaktok Nunatiami Otokanik Ehivgiogotikhanik Laisiniktot ema oyagakhiokvikhap atoktakhait Ekati Diamond Mine.  Ona laisikhat atokniaktait ehivgiokhilotik allangogomakmagit ehivgiogotit hokot oyagakhiokvikhap ema kanga titigakhimaitot ehivgioktokhat elittogiyaokmata.  Tabkoninga ehivgiokhiliktinagit, okoa Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre otokakkakvik tohaktitaoyagiakaktok.

        Okoa panagiiklotik ehivgiokhiniaktot Yelonaip Itkiliit Otokanik Ehivgiokhiyut. Hamna ehivgiokhinik elaoyut oyagakhiokvioniaktoni Ekati Diamond Mine.  BHP havaktingit Yelonaimiotatlo Enutokait ehivgiokhikatigiiktot atokpagaitnik Pointe de Misere ovani Lac de Gras, ovalo  eniktiginiaktot ellovikhiviknik enutokait elihimayaitnik ovani kugani Lac du Sauvage.