Just Methods, No Madness: Historical Archaeology on the Piikani First Nation

Abstract

Historical archaeology in Canada has its own history. Initially it had a very narrow ambit, accepting only those sites that had corroborating documents. However, only one group could benefit from a definition that emanated from a colonial perspective. Contemporary historical archaeology is much broader and is no longer only about the fur trade era. Instead the number and types of sites of interest to the profession are more varied. On the Piikani First Nation, it is the focus of research into the era from 1880 to 1920 when the mobile culture turned away from that lifeway and embraced a new community centred on farming and sedentary customs. Since there is no documentary evidence of their experience, but by triangulating material culture, archival documents and oral history interviews a coherent historical narrative emerges. It is also the backdrop for a discussion on ethics and the methods used by professionals and how they can be deployed to realise community-based historical archaeology research.