Reconciling Cultural Resource Management with Indigenous Sense of Place: A Gitanyow Case Study

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1 Reconciling Cultural Resource Management with Indigenous Sense of Place: A Gitanyow Case Study Rick Budhwa, MA Crossroads Cultural Resource Management Bulkley Valley Research Centre Northwest Community College Department of Anthropology and Sociology

www.crossroadscrm.com Bulkley Valley Research Centre www.bvcentre.

2 Research Credits Klassen, Michael A., Rick Budhwa and Rudy Reimer/Yumks 2009 First Nations, Forestry and the Transformation of Archaeological Practice in British Columbia. In Heritage Management. Volume 2, No. 2, Fall. pp Left Coast Press. California. McCreary, Tyler and Rick Budhwa 2010 Reconciling Indigenous Sense of Place and Cultural Resource Management in British Columbia. Paper presented at the annual Association of American Geographers Conference, Washington DC. In A Deeper Sense of Place. Eds. Soren Larsen and Jay T. Johnson. Submitted for print. Office of the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs 2009 The Gitanyow Cultural Heritage Resource Management Policy. Gitanyow, BC.

McCreary, Tyler and Rick Budhwa 2010 Reconciling Indigenous Sense of Place and Cultural Resource Management in British Columbia.

3 Outline What is CRM? Current state of CRM in Northcentral BC Shortcomings of CRM for First Nations Heritage Stewardship Sense of Place First Nations Responses The Gitanyow Cultural Heritage Resource Management Policy (GCHRMP) Context, content and status Future Trends in CRM

First Nations Heritage Stewardship Sense of Place First Nations

4 CRM and Archaeology CRM: Managing the impacts of the modern world on cultural resources Managing cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, historical records, social institutions, expressive cultures, old buildings, religious beliefs and practices, folk life, artifacts and spiritual places (Watkins & Beaver, 2008) Archaeology the study of past human behaviour through material remains

cultures, old buildings, religious beliefs and practices, folk life, artifacts and spiritual

5 Cultural Resource Management: Territories/Landbase Natural Resources Cultural Resources Wildlife Geology Fisheries Water Quality Ecology Soils Botany Hydrology (etc) Traditional Knowledge Archaeology Traditional Use Socio-cultural Studies Types of Studies: Archaeological Overview Assessment Archaeological Impact Assessment (Traditional Use Study/Traditional Knowledge Study)

Knowledge Archaeology Traditional Use Socio-cultural Studies Types of Studies: Archaeological

6 CRM, Archaeological Practice and the Heritage Conservation Act HCA only governs archaeological resources 1846 date is a PROFOUND issue for all First Nations Archaeological assessment process and enforcement of HCA has been problematic

a PROFOUND issue for all First Nations Archaeological

7 Focus of CRM Archaeological Resources (i.e. Material Remains - Tangible)

8 But what about other Cultural Resources? (i.e. Non-Material Remains - Intangible?

9 For First Nations - Natural and Cultural Resources are Inseparable

10 What about Places of Cultural Importance on the Landscape?

11 CRM Process has Serious Shortcomings for First Nations Does not satisfy or integrate with First Nations epsitemologies Does not allow for culturally meaningful management of resources Does not allow for individual First Nations wishes on how their cultural resources should be managed Does not recognize cultural diversity within First Nations populations Does not meaningfully involve First Nations at high levels of cultural resource management Does not adequately recognize non-material cultural resources**.among others

resources should be managed Does not recognize cultural diversity within First Nations populations Does not meaningfully involve

12 Sense of Place Attention should also be directed to the concept of sense of place a feeling or perception held by people, to a certain place on the landscape Possesses a strong identity and character, and a high degree of authenticity of which people attribute a special meaning and relationship Should protect or conserve such places (at the very least recognition) Loss of sense of place may have significant impacts on individuals and communities with connectivity to that place

of which people attribute a special meaning and relationship Should protect or conserve such places (at the very least

13 First Nations Responses to Shortcomings of British Columbia CRM Direct Actions: Blockades and Occupations Court Actions Heritage Policies and Permitting Procedures** Archaeology Departments and Businesses Treaties, Interim Measures and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) Municipal Protocols and Agreements Industry Agreements Provincial Land Use Planning Processes*

Departments and Businesses Treaties, Interim Measures and Memorandums of Understanding

14 Increasing First Nations Influence over CRM Process First Nations are pushing boundaries by asserting their authority and sovereignty over the CRM process Adapting existing resource management processes to fit First Nations needs, while still meeting minimum industry standard requirements (where appropriate) Creating forums for cross cultural education Creating CRM policies that expresses their concerns in a culturally appropriate manner

Nations needs, while still meeting minimum industry standard requirements (where appropriate) Creating forums

15 The Gitanyow Cultural Heritage Resource Management Policy Evolved from the Nass Sustainable Resource Management Planning Process Produced a needs assessment that recommended the GCHRMP The GCHRMP was partially funded by the provincial government and took nearly 1-2 years to complete (living document)

assessment that recommended the GCHRMP The GCHRMP was partially funded by

16 The Gitanyow are a First Nation situated in northwestern BC organized into eight historic Houses (Wilp) governed by a traditional matrilineal system, which is intact and strong actively practicing Gitanyow laws and maintain Gitanyow traditions 2 Clans, 8 Houses currently at stage 4 of the BC Treaty process

which is intact and strong actively practicing Gitanyow laws and maintain

18 Purpose of the GCHRMP stress importance of Territory in connection Gitanyow culture (cannot separate culture/nature) emphasize the continuity of past to present identify cultural resources of importance to each Gitanyow House identify where protection of cultural resources is required conserve and manage cultural resources for future Gitanyow generations connect cultural heritage work to a cultural resources database develop procedures and protocols for interaction between Gitanyow and external agencies with regard to CRM develop a resource for education about Gitanyow heritage and culture situate archaeological resources in relation to cultural/natural resources centre Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs in the process of CRM of resources of any historic age recognize that only the Gitanyow people and appropriate Clan/House members can assess cultural value

a cultural resources database develop procedures and protocols for interaction between Gitanyow and external agencies with regard to CRM develop a resource for education about Gitanyow heritage and

31 Connections to the Territories Relationships to the land defined by: spiritual, emotional, historic, practical, legal, cultural, educational, and economic connections All of these aspects of connectivity are interrelated with sense of place and collectively define the Gitanyow and their relationship to their landscape

40 Some Benefits of the GCHRMP Creates awareness Promotes cultural sensitivity and cross cultural education Provides for greater certainty in the resource management process Allows for informed communications, negotiations and decision making***** Builds technical, financial and cultural capacity Presented in manner in which resource management considers credible

41 Current Status GCHRMP Forestry Industry BCTS Mining Industry Provincial Government Agencies MoFR ILMB Other FNs Consulting Archaeology/Anthropology Academia

42 Cultural Resource Management Concept: Territories/Landbase Natural Resources Cultural Impact Assessment Cultural Resources Wildlife Geology Fisheries Water Quality Ecology Soils Botany Hydrology (etc) Cultural Heritage Socio-cultural Traditional Knowledge Traditional Use Archaeology* Types of Studies: Archaeological Overview Assessment Traditional Use Study/Traditional Knowledge Study Archaeological Impact Assessment Cultural Impact Assessment

43 Future Trends in CRM within British Columbia Heritage stewardship responsibilities and authority shifting to First Nations Some First Nations have entered into agreements with major industrial development proponents Reduced role of Archaeological Branch Empowerment of First Nations by legal system and LUP processes Greater involvement for social scientists in the resource management process (ex. anthropologists, cultural geographers) Time for opportunity and new ideas (greater awareness, interest, tolerance, acceptance)

Cultural impact assessments: Integrating culture with standard resource management perspectives

Cultural impact assessments: Integrating culture with standard resource management perspectives Rick Budhwa, MA Crossroads Cultural Resource Management Ltd. CrossroadsCRM.com Karl Sturmanis, MSc Chignecto