WASHEO WHISKIHEGGAN: EXAMINING THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY FUR TRADE POST IN FORT SEVERN, ONTARIO THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT by Katherine Sarah Davidson B.A. (Honours), Trent University, 2016 A Thesis submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate Academic Unit of Anthropology Supervisor: Susan Blair, PhD, Department of Anthropology Examining Board: Melanie G. Wiber, PhD, Department of Anthropology Melissa White, PhD, Department of Education This thesis is accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK April, 2019 © Katherine Sarah Davidson, 2019 Abstract This thesis is a two-part examination of the assemblage from the Hudson’s Bay Company Post site (GlIv-1), a fur trade post in Fort Severn, Ontario. Part One of this thesis analyzes the historic archaeological materials which were surface collected from the site between 1950 and 2017. Using Stanley South’s (1977) method of artifact patterning, the GlIv-1 assemblage is found to closely correlate to South’s Frontier Artifact Pattern. Part Two presents the results of a community engagement project which was conducted with middle school classes from Wasaho Cree Nation School in Fort Severn. This project asked students to draw on lessons from the classroom and from community members to write a story about an artifact from the site. By conducting this research in two parts, this thesis aims to understand more about life at a northern trading post, and to create opportunities for the descendant community to engage with their heritage. ii Acknowledgements According to family legend, my great grandfather was known to say that “an education is not a heavy thing to carry”. I owe great thanks to giants upon whose shoulders I stand. To my family for supporting my education at every step. To my fiancé for being the ray of sunshine through this process. To my colleagues at the Canadian Museum of History (Megan, Lauren, Matt, Stacey, Colleen and Patti), and especially to Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, who set me on this journey. To Chief Paul Burke, Ms. Robin Chamney and the Fort Severn First Nation community, for allowing me the privilege to conduct this research. To Tara Ward for her assistance in making this research possible. To the Royal Ontario Museum and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation for preserving the past for the future. To my supervisor, Dr. Susan Blair, for being my guide at every stage. To the Department of Anthropology at UNB for making me part of the family. Miigwetch - Merci - Thank you. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1 - Introduction .......................................................................................................1 Objectives ................................................................................................................1 Context of the Research ...........................................................................................2 Significance..............................................................................................................3 Theoretical and Methodological Approaches ..........................................................9 Outline....................................................................................................................10 Chapter 2 - Background .....................................................................................................11 GlIv-1 Site and Collections ....................................................................................13 Historical and Ethnographic Background ..............................................................19 History of Severn House (Washeo Whiskiheggan) ...............................................21 Fur Trade Archaeology at Comparable Sites .........................................................23 Part One: Archaeological Analysis…………………………………………………….. Chapter 3 - Methods...........................................................................................................30 Previous Identification and Collections Work .......................................................30 Examination Procedure ..........................................................................................32 Analysis Methods...................................................................................................34 Chapter 4 - Results and Analysis .......................................................................................37 Collection Patterns .................................................................................................38 Bone Artifacts ........................................................................................................40 Metal Artifacts .......................................................................................................42 iv Ceramic Artifacts ...................................................................................................46 Stone Artifacts .......................................................................................................50 Wood Artifacts .......................................................................................................52 Composite Tools ....................................................................................................53 Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................54 Glass Artifacts ........................................................................................................55 Interpretation ..........................................................................................................63 Part Two: Community Engagement…………………………………………...……….. Chapter 5 - Community Methods .......................................................................................66 The Modern Community........................................................................................68 Permissions and Collaborations .............................................................................69 WCNS Project Methods .........................................................................................72 Chapter 6 - Community Results and Analysis ...................................................................78 Project Results .......................................................................................................79 Lessons Learned from this Project Design ............................................................86 Chapter 7 - Discussion .......................................................................................................91 Successes................................................................................................................91 Challenges ..............................................................................................................94 Significance............................................................................................................97 Recommendations and Next Steps.........................................................................99 Chapter 8 - Conclusion.....................................................................................................102 References Cited ..............................................................................................................105 Appendix A: Artifact Catalog ..........................................................................................117 Appendix B: Student Stories ............................................................................................139 Appendix C: Images Provided to Students ......................................................................148 v Appendix D: Teacher’s Package ......................................................................................153 Appendix E: Artifacts Sorted by Material and Group .....................................................163 Appendix F: Reference Photos for Chapter 4 ..................................................................178 Curriculum Vitae vi List of Tables Table 4.1: Bone objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections …….……40 Table 4.2: Metal objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections ………....42 Table 4.3: Ceramic objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections……… 46 Table 4.4: Stone objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections…………. 50 Table 4.5: Wood objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections………… 52 Table 4.6: Composite objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections.…… 53 Table 4.7: Assorted objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections ….….. 54 Table 4.8: Glass objects found in the three examined GlIv-1 collections …….……55 Table 4.9: Percentage of the GlIv-1 collection represented by each material type... 58 Table 4.10: Empirical Artifact Profile for GlIv-1………………………………….. 59 Table 4.11: Adjusted Artifact Profile for GlIv-1…………………………………... 60 Table 4.12: