Scowlitz VMC Project Presentation at UBC Archaeology Day, March 15, 2014

Digging into the Scowlitz Digital Archives: the Sq’éwlets Virtual Museum of Canada Exhibit Project

Mike Blake (UBC)Kate Hennessy (SFU / SIAT)Natasha Lyons (Ursus Heritage)Dave Schaepe (SRRMC)Andy Phillips (Scowlitz First Nation)

UBC Archaeology DayMarch 15, 2014

Sq’éwletsCommunity

(Scowlitz)Qithyl Site

Chilliwack

Agassiz

People of the River: Sq’éwlets

In 1992, Chief Clarence Pennier, Head of Rights and Title for the Stó:lō Tribal Council, directed Gordon Mohs and Sonny McHalsie to invite archaeologists from UBC to begin working at DhRl16, Qithyl (Scowlitz) a large site on the Harrison River.

http://www.stolotribalcouncil.ca/rights_title.html

First Visit, Spring 1992. The immediate concern was the erosion of the river bank and the large number of perishable artifacts that were being washed away by the river.

Waterlogged Basket

Slate knife with yew wood

handle still attached

During our first visit to the site, on the terrace above the river, we found a large

cluster of intact mounds.

The Chief and Council at Sq’éwlets asked us to investigate the mounds and demonstrate that they were part of the ancestral

cemetery on the river. Chief Frank Malloway councels us on how to proceed with excavations at Burial Mound 1.

Over six seasons (1992-1999) we mapped and excavated at the site—including this large house feature—bringing dozens of students from UBC,

SFU, and other colleges and universities to work at Qithyil--DhRl16.

Every year, groups of Sq’éwlets and Stó:lō school children and teachers visited.

Clifford Hall, Betty Charlie, Jenny Pennier, and many others guided us all (Dana Lepofsky—in this case) in our joint research….and still do today.

Betty Charlie teaching the Fieldschool students to make red ochre Tumulth--a special paint for spiritual protection while working at the site.

Cliff looks on to ensure quality control.

Rub a dub, dub…..I hope these guys were wearing Tumulth.Brian Thom and John Maxwell on paddles, Mark Blackham on

the fishing rod, and Gary Coupland on the engine.

Spear and arrow points for hunting

Slate knives for cleaning fish

Small blades of obsidian and quartz

Adzes for carving wood

Long knife or spear point for hunting

The VMC project is helping us to bring the knowledge back home to Sq’éwlets

Mike Ananny and Kate Hennessy, in preparation

• Sq'éwlets: A Stó:lo-Coast Salish Community in the Fraser River Valley

Sq'éwlets: A Stó:lo-Coast Salish Community in the Fraser River Valley

Scowlitz VMC Project Presentation at UBC Archaeology Day, March 15, 2014

Education

Transcript of Scowlitz VMC Project Presentation at UBC Archaeology Day, March 15, 2014