NWT Archaeology Program
The Archaeology Program promotes the protection, conservation and investigation of archaeological sites in the Northwest Territories. It achieves these goals by participating in regulatory processes that control land use activities that could threaten archaeological sites, by regulating archaeological investigations, and by undertaking archaeological research to advance the techniques of archaeology, to extend knowledge of the archaeological resources of the Northwest Territories, and to extend our understanding of the past.
Currently there are over 6500 known archaeological sites in the NWT, though we estimate that this represents only a small portion of the total number of sites that exist as large areas remain unexplored for archaeological resources. Consequently, when viewing a map of archaeological sites it is important to remember that the pattern and density of “known” sites is more likely to reflect where archaeologists have undertaken research than it does the actual distribution of sites. Where there are no “known” sites shown, this indicates that archaeological research has yet to be undertaken in that area.
Information for Developers
For more information, contact archaeology@gov.nt.ca.
To submit a request for access to archaeological site information, contact archaeology@gov.nt.ca.
Information for Archaeologists
Archaeologists planning to conduct research in the NWT will require a NWT Archaeologist Permit.
Necessary Qualifications
NWT Archaeologist Permit holders must demonstrate capacity for fulfilling NWT Permit Requirements, and:
For a Class 1 permit, the applicant must have:
- A University degree with a major in Archaeology or Anthropology
- 2 years fieldwork experience in northern archaeology (includes northern parts of the provinces)
- Exceptions on a case-by-case basis may be considered.
For a Class 2 permit, the applicant must have:
- Minimum of a Masters degree in Archaeology or Anthropology
- Three years fieldwork experience in northern archaeology, or two years fieldwork experience in NWT archaeology
- Must have undertaken Class 2-type archaeology within the last 10 years in a northern setting
- Exceptions on a case-by-case basis may be considered.
For more information, contact archaeology@gov.nt.ca.
The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Archaeologist Permit Requirements provide more information on the permitting process and the requirements of permit holders.
NWT Scientist’s Licence
If you, or others in your party are planning research in other disciplines (anthropology, oral history research, geology etc.) you will require a NWT Scientist’s Licence. Please consult the Aurora Research Institute website at www.nwtresearch.com.
Conservation of Artifacts
As a condition for receiving an Archaeologist Class 2 Permit from the Government of the Northwest Territories archaeologists must show that they will provide adequately for the conservation of the excavated artifacts and samples. A manual has been prepared and made available to provide basic information on conservation to northern archaeologists, stressing aspects of preventive conservation that will ensure the safety and preservation of excavated objects.
Conservation Manual for Northern Archaeologists [EN]
Download 2.12 MB 4033 downloads | téléchargements
Manuel de conservation destiné aux archéologues du Nord [FR]
Download 996.76 KB 2743 downloads | téléchargementsPlease note that we cannot receive email messages or notifications containing zipped files. Please send each file uncompressed or via upload through your cloud service.
It can take up to 60 days to issue a permit.
Reporting the Discovery of Archaeological Sites in the NWT
Human occupation in the NWT probably spans at least the past 10,000 years. Much of this human history is documented only in archaeological and historic sites. Archaeological sites in the NWT and the heritage information that they contain constitute a unique resource, which is of considerable cultural and scientific value to the people of the NWT, Canada, and indeed, the world. Heritage resources are fragile, and because of their cultural and scientific importance they are protected under legislation. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre manages heritage resources throughout the Northwest Territories on behalf of the territorial and federal governments. Archaeological sites are protected by law, and as such are subject of land use review whenever a project is proposed anywhere in the NWT. Only qualified archaeologists holding a valid NWT Archaeologists Research Permit can undertake archaeological research. Sometimes however, archaeological sites are discovered during the course of other activities. By reporting these finds you will help ensure that the heritage resources of the NWT are properly documented and protected.
What should you do if you find an archaeological site during the course of your work?
- Do not disturb or collect any of the artifacts. Leave them where you found them.
- Take two or three representative photographs of the site
- Describe the nature and extent of the site and any artifacts noted
- Take a GPS reading of the location (noting the datum used)
- Mark the location on a 1:50,000 scale map
- Record the date of your discovery
Reporting Form
An electronic site reporting form template is available. Please use this format when reporting sites to the Sites Registrar at the CMC.
Archaeological Site Report Form Worksheet
Download 0.00 KB 2106 downloads | téléchargementsBorden System
Canada uses the Borden System for providing unique identifiers for archaeological sites, and is one of the few countries in the world to use a national system. Developed in 1952 by archaeologist Charles Borden, a “Borden number” uses a system of upper and lower case letters to divide Canada into discrete units based on latitude and longitude. The link below allows you to download a map showing the ‘Upper’ Borden units for the NWT.
Cathie Harper of the NWT Centre for Remote Sensing, GNWT has created ArcView shapefiles of the Borden grid. A zipped file of the data, including metadata, can be downloaded from the following link. Please ensure that the data is credited to: [NWT Centre for Remote Sensing, GNWT based on Borden, 1952].
Borden Grid Shapefiles Archive
Download 6.02 MB 2504 downloads | téléchargementsSummary of Legislation Protecting Heritage Resources in the Northwest Territories
Representing a continuous human occupation stretching back over 10,000 years, archaeological sites are fragile and non-renewable and are protected from disturbance by legislation, regulation, and policy in the NWT.
4. No person shall search for archaeological sites or archaeological artifacts, or survey an archaeological site, without a Class 1 or Class 2 permit.
5. No person shall excavate, alter or otherwise disturb an archaeological site, or remove an archaeological artifact from an archaeological site without a Class 2 permit.
Under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act “heritage resources” are defined as archaeological or historic sites, burial sites, artifacts and other objects of historical, cultural or religious significance, and historical or cultural records. Furthermore under Part 5 of the Act, an “impact on the environment” means any effect on land, water, air or any other component of the environment, as well as on wildlife harvesting, and includes any effect on the social and cultural environment or on heritage resources.
The Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations (MVLUR) stem from the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, and apply throughout the NWT, except in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Two sections of the MVLUR are relevant to archaeological sites:
6 (a). Unless expressly authorized by a permit or in writing by an inspector, no permittee shall conduct a land use operation within 30 m of a known monument or a known or suspected historical, archaeological site or burial ground; and
12. Where, in the course of a land-use operation, a suspected historical or archaeological site or burial ground is discovered,
(a) the permittee shall immediately suspend operations on the site or burial ground and notify the Board or an inspector; and
(b) the Board or inspector shall notify any affected first nation, the Tlicho Government if the operation is taking place in the part of Monfwi Gogha De Niitlee that is in the Northwest Territories, and the depart- ment of the Government of the Northwest Territories responsible therefor of the location of the site or burial ground and consult them regarding the nature of the materials, structures or artifacts and any further ac- tions to be taken.
Within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the Northwest Territories Land Use Regulations, pursuant to the Northwest Territories Territorial Lands Act apply to Territorial Lands. Two sections are relevant to archaeological sites:
9. No permittee shall, unless expressly authorized in his or her permit or in writing by an inspector,
(a) conduct a land use operation within 30 m of a known monument or a known or suspected archaeological site or burial ground;
(b) excavate territorial land within 100 m of a watercourse at a point that is below the normal high water mark of the watercourse;
(c) deposit excavated material on the bed of a watercourse; or
(d) place a fuel or supply cache within 100 m of a watercourse at a point that is below the normal high water mark of the watercourse.
15. If, in the course of a land use operation, a suspected archaeological site or burial ground is unearthed or otherwise discovered, the permittee shall immediately
(a) suspend the land use operation on the site; and
(b) notify the engineer or an inspector of the location of the site and the nature of any unearthed materials, structures or artifacts.
19(9) Where in the course of an operation, a suspected archaeological site or burial ground is unearthed or otherwise discovered, the Holder shall immediately:
(a) suspend the operation on the site; and
(b) notify the Administrator or an Inspector of the location of the site and the nature of any unearthed materials, structures or artifacts.
Development activities near archaeological sites are also regulated by the Canada Oil and Gas Geophysical Operations Regulations of the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act. These apply on Crown and private land, including those in settled claim areas, in the NWT and Nunavut:
27. (1) Where an archaeological site or a burial ground is discovered during an onshore geophysical operation, the operator shall so inform a conservation officer and suspend the operation in the immediate area of the discovery until permitted by the conservation officer to resume the operation in that area.
(2) A conservation officer shall permit the resumption of a geophysical operation that was suspended under subsection (1) if the conservation officer, after consultation with the Minister of Communications, is satisfied that the operation will not disturb the archaeological site or the burial ground and will not affect the archaeological or other special characteristics or the nature of the site or ground.
The Historical Resources Act (Territorial) pertains to Territorial Lands. Protection of sites in these areas is afforded by:
1(2). If, in the opinion of the Minister, any prehistoric or historic remains, whether or not designated as an historic place under this ordinance or under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act of Canada is threatened with destruction by reason of commercial, industrial, mining, mineral exploration or other activity, the Minister may order the persons undertaking the activity to provide for adequate investigation, recording and salvage of prehistoric or historic objects threatened with destruction.
Through the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Territorial 1994) the location of archaeological and cultural can be protected by not permitting their locations to be made public. Section 19 of the Act states:
19. The head of a public body may refuse to disclose information to an applicant where the disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in damage to or interfere with the conservation of
(a) fossil sites or natural sites;
(b) sites having an anthropological or heritage value or aboriginal cultural significance; or
(c) any rare, endangered, threatened or vulnerable form of life.
Archaeological Fieldwork Reports
In this section, we have compiled and edited the reports filed by all archaeologists conducting field work in the Northwest Territories since 1998. Please note that the reports available on our website are summaries of each archaeological report filed with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Also note that prior to 2000, the archaeological reports included sites in what is now the territory of Nunavut. Archaeological reports from 1984 to 1996 are archived in print at the museum.
Other research that has been conducted in the Northwest Territories as been recently catalogued by the Aurora Research Institute in a online database.
| Permit # | Archaeologist(s) | Research Area | Summary Report |
|---|
Offices
NWT Archaeologist’s Permit applicants may need other permits, licenses, or permissions to conduct research in the NWT. It is the permit applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they have all required permits, licenses, and permissions.
Federal Crown Lands
Depending upon the scale of the project, researchers working on Federal Crown Lands outside of the settled land claim regions may need a Land Use Permit.
Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
7th Floor – 4922 48th Street
PO Box 2130
Yellowknife NT X1A 2P6
Tel: 867- 669-0506 | Fax: 867- 873-6610
mvlwb.com
Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Researchers working on Inuvialuit Lands require permission from the Inuvialuit Land Administration. A Land Use Permit or Licence may also be required.
Inuvialuit Land Administration
PO Box 290
Tuktoyaktuk, NT X0E 1C0
Tel: 867-977-7100 | Fax: 867-977-7101
www.inuvialuitland.com
Researchers working within the Inuvialuit Settlement Area but not on Inuvialuit Lands may require a project screening.
Environmental Impact Screening Committee
PO Box 2120
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Tel: 867-777-2828 | Fax 867-777-2610
www.screeningcommittee.ca
Gwich’in Settlement Region
Researchers may work on Gwich’in Lands with the agreement of the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
Gwich’in Tribal Council
PO Box 1509
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Tel: 867-777-7900 | Fax: 867-777-7919
www.gwichin.nt.ca
Researchers working in the Gwich’in Settlement Region may require a Land Use Permit.
Gwich’in Land and Water Board
Box 2018
Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
Tel: 867-777-7960 | Fax: 867-777-7970
www.glwb.com
Sahtu Region
Researchers may work on Sahtu Lands with the agreement of the appropriate Sahtu Land Corporation or Band council.
Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
PO Box 173
Deline NT X0E 0G0
Tel: 867-589-4719 | Fax: 867-589-4908
www.sahtu.ca
Researchers working in the Sahtu region may require a Land Use Permit.
Sahtu Land and Water Board
PO Box 1
Fort Good Hope NT X0E 0H0
Tel: 867-598-2413 | Fax: 867-598-2325
www.slwb.com
Tłı̨chǫ Region
Researchers working in the Tłı̨chǫ region may require a Land Use Permit.
Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board
PO Box 32
Wekweèti NT X0E 1W0
Tel: 867-713-2500 | Fax: 867-713-2502
www.wlwb.ca
Research Permit
Researchers planning to conduct other scientific or anthropological studies in conjunction with archaeological projects will require a Scientific Research Licence.
Aurora Research Institute
PO Box 1450
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Tel: 867-777-3298 | Fax: 867-777-4264
Artifact Conservation
Artifact conservation enquiries should be addressed to:
Conservation
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Po Box 1320
4750 48th Street
Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Tel: 867-873-7664 | Fax: 867-873-0205
rosalie_scott@gov.nt.ca
Archaeologist’s Permit
Archaeologist’s Permit applications must be emailed to:
For more information on the permit system in the NWT contact:
Territorial Archaeologist
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Po Box 1320
4750 48th Street
Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Tel: 867-873-7688 | Fax: 867-873-0205
tom_andrews@gov.nt.ca
