Centring community at 染EL赂I冉膯E
In July 2023, UVic undergraduate and graduate students joined members of Tsawout and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations for a ground-breaking archaeological field school in Cordova Bay. Centred in W̱SÁNEĆ oral history and local knowledge of the ancient ȾEL¸IȽĆE village site, the UVic-Tsawout 2023 Archaeological Field School explored the spatial and temporal depth of Indigenous history in the area, and worked to inform the future of the Cordova Bay community.
W̱SÁNEĆ communities and the District of Saanich have worked over several years to set out a vision in the Cordova Bay Local Area Plan for reconnecting Indigenous peoples with their ancestral village at ȾEL ̧IȽĆE, and to raise awareness about the implications of this history for our collective futures. As part of the work, Tsawout First Nation asked us to help document what lies just beneath the surface in this place.
The results of the archaeological work begin to emerge immediately, showing irrefutable proof of continuous and long history of Indigenous people on the lands and waters of Cordova Bay. In the intertidal zone, the team uncovered an ancient stone fish trap. At the village site, they discovered glimpses of village life – from artifacts to cooking features, and an abundance of diverse food remains from shellfish and herring to sea lion and elk, giving a glimpse into how the unique environments of the Cordova Bay area sustained people over the centuries.
“At every stage of our work, partnerships were crucial to the success of the project,” says Thom. “People at many levels of government, community and business stepped up to help the project come together.”
The Cordova Bay field school relied on the support of the District of Saanich, who provided permits and access to the waterfront public parks as sites for the digs, as well as security and site safety. Many District of Saanich staff visited the site, and recognized how their own operations could be improved to protect and honour places like this.
The provincial government stepped in too, facilitating the permits needed to execute the work, and organizing a loan agreement with the Royal BC Museum for artifacts that had been previously collected from Cordova Bay. Plus, many