BIRTLE TRANSMISSION PROJECT PROPOSAL TITLE HERITAGE RESOURCES IMPACT ASSESSMENT TECHNICAL REPORT Heritage Permit A33-17 Manitoba Hydro Licencing and Environmental Assessment Prepared by: InterGroup Consultants Ltd. 500‐280 Smith Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 1K2 August 2018 Birtle Transmission Project Heritage Resources Impact Assessment Technical Report Heritage Permit A33-17 August 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY InterGroup Consultants Ltd. (InterGroup) conducted a Heritage Resource Impact Assessment (HRIA) for the proposed Birtle Transmission Project on behalf of Manitoba Hydro. The objective of the HRIA was to determine if heritage resources are situated within the development area and assess any potential impacts to heritage resources during development activities. The assessment occurred over two field programs August 21-24, 2017 and October 10-13, 2017 under Manitoba Heritage Permit A33-17. A total of 46 quarter sections were selected for heritage survey, of these 15 (33%) were unable to be assessed due to lack of landowner permission or access issues. The results of the HRIA of the proposed Birtle Transmission Project resulted in the discovery of two new archaeological sites (EcMh-66 and EdMi-7) within the proposed transmission right-of-way; however these are small, delimited sites that are of low significance. Mitigation measures and Environmental Protection Plans during construction will ensure the sites are protected from subsurface damage. Pre-construction recommendations for the ROW of the Birtle Transmission Project include: Additional testing at quarter sections (n=8) previously investigated and assessment of quarter sections (n=23) not investigated during the 2017 field season; Shovel testing of the tower foot locations within eight (n=9) selected quarter sections; and Deep testing via excavator or auger at major waterways, as requested by Manitoba’s Historic Resources Branch, Department of Sport, Culture and Heritage, to occur at tower locations situated within 100 meters of the Assiniboine River, Snake Creek and Birdtail River. Construction recommendations for the ROW of the Birtle Transmission Project include: An archaeologist monitor tower footing excavations within 100 meters of major waterways, at the two newly identified registered archaeological sites, EcMh-66 and EdMi-7, and as well as any previously registered heritage resources sites in the area. i Birtle Transmission Project Heritage Resources Impact Assessment Technical Report Heritage Permit A33-17 August 2018 Project Personnel Project Archaeologist Lisa C. Bobbie, M.A. (Aug 21-24 and Oct 10-13) Amber Flett, M.A. Archaeologist (Aug 21-24) Luther Sousa, B.A Archaeologist (Oct 10-13) Tamas Farkas, M.A. Community Assistant (Aug 21-24) Roy Sanderson, Gambler FN Lisa C. Bobbie, M.A. Report Preparation: Ashley Daciuk, B.A. Hons. Jennifer Olson, PhD. Reviewed By: R. Connon, MBA Daniel Szot, M.A. Candidate; GIS Mapping: Lisa C. Bobbie, M.A.; Manitoba Hydro Acknowledgements: The 2017 archaeological monitoring of the Birtle Transmission Line Project was undertaken with the cooperation of Manitoba Hydro, which arranged landowner access permission and Indigenous community contribution agreements. We gratefully acknowledge Gambler First Nation for providing valuable local knowledge and appreciate the contributions of Mr. Roy Sanderson, who assisted and supported the heritage resources fieldwork program. ii Birtle Transmission Project Heritage Resources Impact Assessment Technical Report Heritage Permit A33-17 August 2018 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Archaeology – The study of past human behavior and culture through the analysis of material remains. Archaeological Site – Any location at which there are material remains, including artifacts, features, or ecofacts, proving evidence of the human past. Archaeological Site Survey – The systematic process archaeologists use to locate, identify, and record the distribution and nature of archaeological sites on the landscape. Artifact – Any portable object used, manufactured, or modified by humans that includes stone, ceramic, metal, wood, bone, or objects of other materials. Borden Number - The Borden system divides Canada up into sections based on lat/long coordinates to provide a way of designating a unique site name and location to archaeological sites. Each site is given a set of letters and a corresponding number which is the order that the site was found. Complex – A grouping of related and/or linked traits features and artifacts which comprise a complete process, activity or cultural unit. Isolated Artifact – A single artifact, unassociated with other artifacts or features, usually recovered from the surface during archaeological survey; usually not considered by itself sufficient evidence of an archaeological site. Lithic – made of stone Paleo – a prefix meaning ‘old’ or ‘ancient’. From an archaeological perspective, a term referring to the earlier inhabitants of North America and includes Clovis, Folsom and Plano complexes. Pedestrian Survey – Also called surface survey, involves walking the surface of an archaeological site or large region in stratified patterns. Scraper – An artifact used to remove the fat from the underside of a hide or to smooth wood. Shovel Test Pit (STP) – A small pit excavation into areas in which the surface is obscured by vegetation or when cultural materials are believed to lie buried in sediments; used to find sites or establish the extent of buried deposits. Site Type – A site that is the first or the best example of a particular cultural phase or tradition; reference to the characteristics of the type site helps define the cultural historical unit. Woodland Period – A cultural period recognized in areas south of the Subarctic and east of the Rockies in which agriculture, settled villages, pottery, and burial mounds usually were found; usually follows the Archaic period and begins 3000 to 2000 years ago. The Woodland Period is subdivided into two phases, Initial Woodland (e.g. Laurel) culture ca. 2500-1000 years ago and Terminal Woodland (e.g. Blackduck, Selkirk) Cultures ca. 1000 years ago prior to European contact. YRA – ‘Years ago’ iii Birtle Transmission Project Heritage Resources Impact Assessment Technical Report Heritage Permit A33-17 August 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PROJECT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 1 2.0 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................. 3 3.0 CHARACTERIZATION STUDY .......................................................................... 3 3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................... 3 3.2 PALEO‐ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 4 3.3 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ..................................................... 5 3.3.1 Early Precontact Period (Palaeo) 10,000 – 6,000 BP ....................... 5 3.3.2 Middle Precontact Period (Intensive Diversification) 6000 – 2000 BP ......................................................................................................... 6 3.3.3 Late Precontact Period (Woodland) 2000 – 350 BP ........................ 6 3.3.4 Contact Period ............................................................................................... 7 3.3.5 Settlement Period ......................................................................................... 9 4.0 PREDICTIVE MODEL .......................................................................................... 9 5.0 HERITAGE RESOURCE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................ 14 5.1 PRE‐INVESTIGATION ................................................................................................ 14 5.1.1 Previously Registered Heritage Resources ...................................... 14 5.1.2 Heritage Resources in Proximity to Preliminary Preferred Route .............................................................................................................. 15 5.1.3 Land‐based Selection of Areas of Potential along PPR ................. 17 5.2 METHODOLOGY AND OBJECTIVES ...................................................................... 19 5.3 PHASE I – AUGUST 21 TO 24, 2017 ...................................................................... 20 5.3.1 SE and NE‐24‐16‐28W Snake Creek (New Archaeological Site, EcMh‐66 “Double Buckle”) ........................................................... 20 5.3.2 SW and NW‐36‐16‐28W Canola Field ................................................. 25 5.3.3 SE‐2‐17‐28W Wheat Field ....................................................................... 25 5.3.4 SW‐22‐16‐27W and SE and SW‐21‐16‐27W Birdtail River ......... 25 5.3.5 NE and NW‐3‐18‐29W Upper Ridges of Assiniboine River West ................................................................................................................ 26 iv Birtle Transmission Project Heritage Resources Impact Assessment Technical Report Heritage Permit A33-17 August 2018 5.3.6 NE‐5‐18‐28W ............................................................................................... 27 5.4 HRIA PHASE II – OCTOBER 10 TO 13, 2017 ...................................................... 27 5.4.1 NE‐18‐16‐26W Birtle Transformer Station ...................................... 28 5.4.2 SW‐19‐16‐26W