Archaeologists and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in British Columbia
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Archaeologists and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in British Columbia by Eric Simons B.A. (Archaeology) Simon Fraser University, 2014 B.F.A. (Visual Arts) Simon Fraser University, 2006 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Archaeology Faculty of Environment © Eric Simons SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2017 Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Approval Name: Eric Simons Degree: Master of Arts Title: Archaeologists and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in British Columbia Examining Committee: Chair: Catherine D’Andrea Professor George Nicholas Senior Supervisor Professor Dana Lepofsky Supervisor Professor Annie Ross External Examiner Honorary Associate Professor School of Social Science The University of Queensland, Australia Date Defended/Approved: July 21, 2017 ii Ethics Statement iii Abstract Archaeologists who study the past histories and lifeways of Indigenous cultures have long used Indigenous traditional knowledge as a source of historical information. Initially, archaeologists primarily accessed traditional knowledge second-hand, attempting to extract historical data from ethnographic sources. However, as archaeologists increasingly work with (and sometimes for) Indigenous communities, they have the opportunity to access traditional knowledge directly. Traditional knowledge is a powerful resource for archaeology, but working with it raises significant socio-political issues. Additionally, integrating traditional knowledge with archaeology’s interpretive frameworks can present methodological and epistemological challenges. This thesis examines the implications of archaeologists’ engagement with traditional knowledge in British Columbia, Canada, where changes at both a disciplinary and broader societal level indicate that archaeologists will increasingly need to find effective and ethical ways to work with traditional knowledge (and knowledge-holders). Through a series of in-depth interviews with practicing archaeologists from around the province, I explore how personal histories, professional circumstances, social realities, and theoretical frameworks affect how traditional knowledge is used in British Columbian archaeology. I conclude by highlighting five emergent interview themes: 1) the significance of personal background and social context in determining how researchers approach traditional knowledge; 2) the importance of long-term relationships between archaeologists and individual First Nations communities; 3) the value of traditional knowledge for illuminating more “ephemeral” aspects of the past; 4) the need for researchers to develop regionally and culturally specific understandings of traditional knowledge in order to work with it responsibly; and 5) the tension between studying Indigenous epistemologies and incorporating them into archaeological interpretations. Keywords: Indigenous traditional knowledge; British Columbia Archaeology; Epistemology; Oral History; Indigenous Heritage; Intellectual Property iv Acknowledgements I am profoundly appreciative of the 22 archaeologists who generously agreed to sit with me (in cafes and pubs, hotel lobbies and ferry lineups, in my home and theirs, and over the phone from all corners of the province) to share their thoughts and experiences. Each conversation was enlightening (not to mention a lot of fun), and it has been a great pleasure working with the wealth of material you provided to me. Your contributions brought this thesis to life, and for that I am thankful and indebted. Thank you to my supervisory committee: my supervisor, George Nicholas, for his extraordinary support and sage guidance, and for his own remarkable scholarship on this topic, which continues to edify and inspire; and Dana Lepofsky, whose enthusiasm and encouragement has buoyed me throughout, and whose practice exemplifies how Indigenous knowledge and community partnerships can be pursued in a creative and ethical manner. Thank you both. I was thrilled when you agreed to take me under your collective wing three years ago, and am even more grateful now. Thank you to the SFU Department of Archaeology, which welcomed me as an undergrad and again as a graduate student. In particular, thanks to Merrill Farmer and Chris Papaianni for your assistance and counsel over these many years. I am grateful for the funding received both from SSHRC and the SFU Department of Archaeology, without which this research would not have been possible Finally, much gratitude to my family and friends, and to my cohort, who often served as both. Your encouragement, support, and companionship made the winding road of this research not only navigable but also a pleasure. v Table of Contents Approval .......................................................................................................................... ii Ethics Statement ............................................................................................................ iii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................. viii List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 Traditional Knowledge and Archaeology: British Columbia .............................................. 3 Research: Purpose and Approach ................................................................................... 4 Thesis Structure .............................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2. Background: Archaeology and Traditional Knowledge ...................... 8 Defining Traditional Knowledge ....................................................................................... 9 TK and Archaeology ...................................................................................................... 11 Historical relationship ................................................................................................. 11 History of TK use in British Columbian archaeology ................................................... 13 Contemporary interpretive context: myths of homogeneity and dichotomy? ............... 15 Contemporary interpretive context: biases of form? ................................................... 17 TK and Science ............................................................................................................. 20 TK and archaeological science: synergy .................................................................... 21 TK and archaeological science: discontinuity ............................................................. 23 TK and archaeological science: conflicting goals? ..................................................... 25 Social Power and Intellectual Property Issues ............................................................... 27 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3. Methods ................................................................................................ 31 Approach: The In-depth, Semi-structured Interview ....................................................... 31 Respondent Selection Process ..................................................................................... 33 Demographic considerations...................................................................................... 33 Respondent selection and selection bias ................................................................... 36 Interview Framework Development ............................................................................... 37 Interview Approach—Structure and Practice ................................................................. 38 Analytical Interpretative Techniques .............................................................................. 40 Ethics & Confidentiality .................................................................................................. 41 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 4. Results .................................................................................................. 45 Results Presentation ..................................................................................................... 46 Theme 1. Demographics ............................................................................................... 48 Theme 2. Defining/Recognizing “Traditional Knowledge” .............................................. 50 Question 2a. Defining TK ........................................................................................... 51 vi Question 2b. Common forms of TK. ..........................................................................