People

Many key individuals help make this course possible.

Iain McKechnie is an assistant professor in the department of anthropology at UVic and is the university instructor for this course. He has been conducting archaeological research in Nuu-chah-nulth territories in Barkley Sound for 20 years.
Denis St. Claire is the co-director of this archaeological research project and is an ethnohistorian and archaeologist for Tseshaht First Nation with 49 years of research experience in Barkley Sound. He recently was awarded a president’s distinguished alumni award for Indigenous Community service and has also been recognized by the Canadian Archaeological Association for the Pendergast Award.
Tseshaht Beach Keepers provide help us recognize the territory we are in and give vital support while in the field.
Wanda Robinson is a Tseshaht community member and a long time project participant who has direct family connections to the territory and is pointing out a house plank in this photo.
Dylan Hillis is a teaching assistant for the field school and a graduate student at UVic who has been working in Barkley Sound since 2019.
Dr. Caron Olive (left) is a CRM Advisor with Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and generously supports our work in the field on behalf of Parks Canada.

Other Partners

Ian Sellers is an archaeologist who has worked with Inlailawatash and Parks Canada who has a graduate degree from SFU and 13 years of field experience in Barkley Sound. Sometimes he drinks coffee using improvised technology..
Jacob Salmen-Hartley (UVic MA 2018) is an archaeologist with Parks Canada with a specialty on Northwest Coast fisheries and has TA’d the course in the past as a UVic graduate student.
Jenny Cohen is an archaeologist with Parks Canada who has conducted research throughout coastal BC including Barkley Sound.
Archaeologist and educator Nicole F. Smith has instructed and co-instructed the UVic and BMSC field schools in the past and makes occasional visits to pursue intertidal work.
Ted Knowles is a long time project logistics expert who paddles everywhere.
Stella Peters (left) is a Huu-ay-aht First Nations archaeologist and interpreter whose family has direct ties to the Kiixin Village and Fortress National Historic Site in Huu-ay-aht territory.
Charlie Clappis (centre) is a Huu-ay-aht council member who has found time in his very busy schedule to generously support our course.
Christine Gruman (top) is a Lands and Resources Specialist with Huu-ay-aht First Nations who holds a graduate degree in Resource management and is involved in a variety of cultural tourism projects.
Dr. Alan D. McMillan (right) is an adjunct professor of archaeology at Simon Fraser University and long-time project mentor. He makes trips to visit and guest lecture as well as pronounce on artifactual matters.
Kelda Larsen is a cultural anthropologist who has worked with Tseshaht Beach Keepers for her thesis research and in the field.

If you would like to learn more about this course please be in touch with the instructor Iain McKechnie by following this link or email iim (at) uvic [dot] ca

 

Our home base and field camp. Photo: Iain McKechnie