Sambaa K’e Archaeology Project
Glen MacKay (NWT Archaeologist’s Permit 2009‐009)
Glen MacKay of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre continued an archaeological survey of the traditional land use area of the Sambaa K’e got’ine (Trout Lake People) under NWT Archaeologist’s Permit 2009‐009.
A collaborative effort between Elders, students and archaeologists, the Sambaa K’e Archaeology Project involves visiting important cultural places identified by the Elders of the Sambaa K’e Dene Band, and documenting them as archaeological sites. The project has a strong educational component for high school students from the community, with students receiving instruction in archaeological survey methods and learning about important cultural places from community elders.
We recorded four new archaeological sites during this brief project, including a cabin and a trail located to the southwest of Sambaa K’e near Tóochoo (“big water”), also known as Celibeta Lake, a precontact lithic scatter, and a historic camping location. We also conducted test excavations at a previously recorded precontact archaeological site.
(Edited by Shelley Crouch, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre)
