Course Details
ANTH-4230: Field School
Credits: 6
Course Dates: May 5-19, 2024
Field Dates: May 5-19, 2024
Prerequisites: ANTH-2200 and ANTH-2300 or Permission of the Instructor
This is a two-week Archaeological Field School, offered by the University of Winnipeg Department of Anthropology in collaboration with the Piapot First Nation (Treaty 4) in Saskatchewan, Canada.
The purpose of this field school is to provide an introduction to the sub-surface equipment and techniques used in identifying and differentiating sub-surface features (example: remains of structures, graves). We believe this is the first field school of its kind in Canada with the mission to train university students alongside First Nation community members and to better understand the full context and effects of the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) on Canada’s First Nations. It is important to note that this field school is not conducting a search for unmarked graves, nor taking place at a former residential school. The field school provides training in search methods and equipment use, building capacity for local engagement in future searches. Local and U.S. experts* in sub-surface technologies will attend and collaborate with the University of Winnipeg Department of Anthropology archaeologists to provide this holistic course. Participants will learn from esteemed community Elders and Knowledge Keepers, visit IRS sites, and be trained by archaeologists in a respectful manner all within the Piapot Nation.
*Experts and affiliations are from the University of Akron, Ohio (Department of Anthropology), S4 Mobile Laboratories, Ohio, and KNT IRS Consulting Ltd (Indigenous owned) located on the Piapot Nation.
Course Work: Students will be required to have a field notebook and also write in it on the lectures, trips, and events with the community. Students will work on computers to look at the different types of data processed. The books will be completed on the final days of the course.
FEES: $2,000.00 in addition to general tuition and fees charged at registration. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the field site (Piapot First Nation, Treaty 4, Saskatchewan). Students must pay the additional $2000 field course fees (to be confirmed; non-refundable), which includes meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), teepee accommodation (shared occupancy), equipment rental, and cultural activities.
Please fill out the initial application form if you are interested in attending.