Alaska Highway Nomination: Findings Report for Year 1
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2012 Alaska Highway Nomination: Findings Report for Year 1 Final Report for 2011-12 Notice to Readers Report prepared for: The Alaska Highway Community Society The sponsor of this project is: April Moi Community Development (North East) Northern British Columbia Tourism Association 9523 100th Street, Fort St. John, BC V2L 3L2 T: 250 785-2544 F: 250 785-4424 Toll Free: 888 785-2544 E: [email protected] www.northernbctourism.com All questions about the project or product should be directed to the sponsor. The primary author of this report is: Julie Harris, M.Mus.Studies, CAHP Contentworks, Inc. 137 Second Avenue, Suite 1 Ottawa, ON K1S 2H4 T: 613 730-4059 F: 613 730-4054 E: [email protected] The authors of the History appendix are Alice Glaze and Natascha Morrison of Contentworks Inc. Alice Glaze and Joan Bard Miller, Contentworks, and John Bass, Intrinsic Tourism Solutions, assisted with the report. July 2012 “Through the courtesy of the Canadian government and people, American troops and workmen have been privileged to help build this road on Canadian soil. For those who had a share in its construction, the Al-Can Highway will be an indelible memory, a memory in which, as the years go by, they can take justifiable pride and satisfaction. To all the distant generations to come, I pray that this road will be an unbreakable bond of understanding between our lands. It is truly a symbol that we are good neighbours for all time.” -Brigadier General James O’Connor at the ceremony opening the Alaska Highway, November 20, 1942 Acknowledgments The consultants would like to thank: April Moi and Bud Powell of the AHCS for their commitment to this project and for their hospitality during site visits and meetings Lorelei McKenzie of the NBCTA, who is a strong advocate for telling the story of the Alaska Highway Corridor Roger Gregoire, for his support during site visits and in meetings NENAS story collector Denise Menard for sharing her ideas about why the Indigenous experience of the Alaska Highway needs to be known NENAS story collector and local historian Mimi Needlay for providing insights and clarifications about First Nation history Staff of Parks Canada (especially Lyle Dick and Julie Dompierre) and BC Heritage Branch (Pamela Copley and Ursula Pfahler) for their informative and practical suggestions regarding the structure and scope of the project. We are also grateful to others (listed in Appendix A) who took time out of busy schedules to learn about the project, and contribute ideas and information. We take responsibility for errors and misinterpretations, and would be pleased to receive comments through Ms. Moi. Julie Harris, Contentworks Inc. and on behalf of Alice Glaze, Leslie Maitland, Joan Bard Miller and Natascha Morrison About Contentworks Inc. Contentworks is an Ottawa-based heritage consulting firm with expertise in the assessment and planning for the conservation and public appreciation of historic places across Canada. The firm is managed by Julie Harris, who has worked in the heritage sector since 1981 as a consultant and for Parks Canada. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals. Staff and associates who assisted with the Alaska Highway Corridor project include: Alice Glaze, Historian; Natascha Morrison, Historian/Educator; Leslie Maitland, Historian/Heritage Planner; and Joan Bard Miller, Information Manager. Acronyms AHCS – Alaska Highway Community Society NHSC – National Historic Site of Canada HSMBC – Historic Sites and Monuments Board of NRAHTA - Northern Rockies Alaska Highway Canada Tourism Association BC MFLNRO – BC Ministry of Forest Lands and NRRM – Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Natural Resources Operations NWSR – Northwest Staging Route NBCTA – Northern British Columbia Tourism PRRD – Peace River Regional District Association PWGSC – Public Works and Government Services NENAS – Northeast Native Advancing Society Canada Photo Credits Cover photo - Lower Liard River Bridge, 2010. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. Acknowledgments – Steel bridge over the Aishihik River (Canyon Creek), c.1960s. Yukon Archives, John Scales Fonds, 91/91 #28, PHO 481. Executive Summary – Racing River Bridge, 2010. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. Introduction – View of mountains along the Alaska Highway northwest of Fort Nelson, 2011. Photo copyright Contentworks Inc. Backgrounder on Cultural Heritage – Old Kiskatinaw Bridge, along an original alignment of the Alaska Highway, 2012. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. The Alaska Highway Corridor’s Cultural Heritage – Cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Alaska Highway, November 20, 1942, at Soldier’s Summit. Yukon Archives, Aubrey Simmons Fonds, 82/192 #9, PHO 152. Soldiers carrying flags and “the first truck to run from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks” take part in the official opening of the Alaska Highway, November 20, 1942, at Soldier’s Summit. Yukon Archives, Aubrey Simmons Fonds, 82/192 #10, PHO 152. Findings – Racing River, near Racing River Bridge, 2010. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. Analysis – Near 113 Creek Bridge, 2010. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. Recommendations – View of a town and construction camp along the Alaska Highway, c.1942-45. Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN no. 4234293. Road Map – Jackfish Creek Bridge, 2010. Photo copyright: Contentworks Inc. Sources – A surveyor working on the construction of the Frances River Bridge in Yukon, c.1943. Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN no. 4235131. Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 1 ABOUT CONTENTWORKS INC. ................................................................................................................................ 1 ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 PHOTO CREDITS .................................................................................................................................................. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................................... 1 KEY FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 ABOUT THE FINDINGS REPORT .................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 ALASKA HIGHWAY COMMUNITY SOCIETY .................................................................................................... 8 1.3 KISKATINAW RIVER BRIDGE NOMINATION .................................................................................................. 9 1.4 NOMINATION OF THE ALASKA HIGHWAY CORRIDOR AS A NHSC ..................................................................... 9 1.5 ADVANTAGES OF COMMEMORATION ....................................................................................................... 10 1.6 THE 2011-12 PROJECT ......................................................................................................................... 11 2 BACKGROUNDER ON CULTURAL HERITAGE ....................................................................................... 13 2.1 CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................... 13 2.2 CONCEPTS .......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Commemoration by the HSMBC ................................................................................................. 14 2.2.2 Heritage Value ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.2.3 Character-defining elements ...................................................................................................... 16 2.2.4 Conservation ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.5 Cultural landscapes ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.6 Cultural Resource Management ................................................................................................. 17 2.3 ROLES IN HERITAGE CONSERVATION ........................................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Federal ........................................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.2 British Columbia .......................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.3 Yukon .........................................................................................................................................