Forest Management Unit S20 Baseline Heritage Inventory: an Archaeological Collaboration

Project Objectives

In collaboration with Swan River First Nation (SRFN), West Fraser, and Ember Archaeology, this project aimed to increase archaeological knowledge about the southern Lesser Slave Lake basin region while integrating Indigenous history and Traditional Land Use (TLU) knowledge.

Special Considerations

Titled the ‘Baseline Heritage Inventory,’ this multi-year project surveyed several culturally significant areas within Treaty 8 territory, and West Fraser’s S20 Forest Management Unit (FMU), located in the Swan Hills. Similar in structure to a previous collaboration that focused on identifying cultural heritage items from the north shore of Lesser Slave Lake (Jankunis et al. 2024), the S20 project brought together SRFN community members and Ember staff throughout 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This research is not tied to any specific development, though its results will likely inform future forestry projects, and aid in the identification and protection of culturally significant areas.

The Outcome

Field surveys with community members from Swan River First Nation (SRFN) and Ember Archaeology staff were conducted during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 field seasons. Over 340 potential research locations were identified in the S20 FMU at the start of the project. Each location resided within one of several larger geographic areas suggested by SRFN. By the project’s end, 74 locations were surveyed, and a total of 21 archaeological sites were recorded.

Although some areas within the project footprint became inaccessible due to environmental factors like wildfire, they remain a viable research avenue for the future.

Reflections of a Collaborative Practice

Collaboration is at the heart of this project, from shared learnings during fieldwork, to the community discussions and educational talks in schools. Over the three field seasons, many different Ember Archaeology staff and Swan River First Nation community members participated in this project. The collaborative nature promoted knowledge sharing between community members, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Ember staff. This project created many lasting memories with friends, and would not have been possible without Swan River First Nation.

“The collaboration between Archaeology and Indigenous knowledge represents a paradigm shift from colonial, extractive research to a respectful, reciprocal partnership.”