57th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association

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2025 Conference Sessions

Activism, collaboration and public engagement in archaeology and bioarchaeology across Canada : an overview

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Diane Martin-Moya, Ph.D., Invited researcher, département d'anthropologie, laboratoire de bioarchéologie humaine, Université de Montréal ; Postdoctoral fellow, département de biochimie, chimie, physique et science forensique, Laboratoire TRACE, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
Manek Kolhatkar, Ph.D., Independent researcher and consulting archaeologist ; Professor, Kiuna College.

Contact Email:

manek.kolhatkar@umontreal.ca

Session Abstract

This session seeks to evaluate the state of archaeological activism in Canada. Activism can take various forms: reshaping educational programs or heritage laws; engaging on-the-ground participation in protests; researching how today’s injustices have been shaped and left untouched by past practices; engaging with a broader public using social or traditional media outlets; developing collaborative projects and critically evaluating their outcomes; unionizing initiatives in private or academic settings; speculation as to what tomorrow could look like.

Topics can vary as well, from general concerns stemming from the capitalist and colonial structure of Canada, to the place that archaeology and bioarchaeology as practices should hold in a changing educational and socio-political climate, or to how (bio)archaeologists may engage in the day-to-day concerns of the communities that host their work.

We welcome contributions ranging from coast to coast, and from practitioners at work in archaeological and/or bioarchaeological settings. We prioritize slightly shorter papers than usual, so that more time can be devoted to increasing the workshops coverage and discussions afterwards. We consider this workshop as a step towards knitting stronger relationships between archaeological activists across Provinces and Nations, identifying their most pressing concerns, easing the sharing of knowledge and tools, and organizing at a larger scale.

Histories Unravelling: Archaeology and Climate Change

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Andrea Richardson, Climate Adaptation Coordinator, Cape Sable Historical Society
Robin Woywitka, Dept. of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University

Contact Email:

barrmuseum.calp@gmail.com

Session Abstract

Climate change is a significant threat to the places and stories in archaeology. We see the direct impacts of sea level rise, loss of sea ice, melting of permafrost, more intense storms, flooding, erosion, drought and wildfires on archaeological sites and resources. As these effects intensify, more and more archaeological sites and culturally significant places - and the stories they hold - may be damaged or lost.

We can find hope in collaboration and action. Archaeologists are working with communities, activists and other disciplines to respond to the impacts of climate change on these communities and their stories. This session will focus on these collective responses to the threats of climate change.

Knitting New Narratives: Student Voices in Archaeology

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Jared T. Hogan, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Alyshia Reesor, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Jacinda Sinclair, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Otis Crandell, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Mahta Sheikhi, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Julia Brenan, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University

Contact Email:

digitalarchaeologygroupMUN@gmail.com

Session Abstract

The Department of Archaeology Graduate (DAG) Society at Memorial University is please to organize a session, titled: Knitting New Narratives: Student Voices in Archaeology, for students interested in giving an oral presentation on their research.

Both graduate and undergraduate students play crucial roles in the advancement of archaeology. Undergraduate students help to bring new energy and fresh perspectives, often asking questions that can lead to significant insights. Graduate students, with their more focused research, push the boundaries of the field by developing new methodologies or deepening the understanding of complex archaeological contexts. This session provides a platform for students to share and discuss their research findings openly. It fosters an environment that prioritizes learning and collaboration, allowing students to explore their topics without the immediate need to demonstrate broad field impact. Their active participation in academic discussions propels archaeology forward as a dynamic and evolving discipline. Attendees will gain insight into how new ideas and technologies are being integrated into archaeological research, enhancing traditional methods and expanding the field’s boundaries. This session also provides an opportunity for students to engage with both peers and experienced professionals in a dialogue that is constructive and centered on mutual learning and growth. We invite all conference participants to join this session to support and encourage our emerging scholars.

Novel Approaches to Historical Assemblages

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Tracy Martens, Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Contact Email:

tracy.martens@gov.sk.ca

Session Abstract

Historical archaeologists rely on written documents to provide contextual information on broadscale trends in resource consumption and the availability of materials. Often, this is the only approach applied to historical assemblages and subtle variations in technologies, resource procurement, reuse or raw materials procurement are not captured. While still rare in historical archaeology, analytical methods commonly used in archaeological science are beginning to fill this gap, particularly in colonial contexts where populations were establishing themselves in unfamiliar landscapes without access to stable, familiar resources. We invite papers for this session focused on analytical, novel and rare approaches to historical assemblages that go beyond associated historical written documentation and contribute to our understanding of these assemblages.

Recent developments in Canadian environmental archaeology

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Solène Mallet Gauthier, University of Alberta

Contact Email:

malletga@ualberta.ca

Session Abstract

Environmental archaeology, or the study of human-environment interactions, is a core component of many archaeological projects across Canada. Methods, such as zooarchaeology, palaeoethnobotany, archaeoentomology, or geoarchaeology, provide valuable insights into past human lives and cultural practices. The results of those analyses are however often relegated to report appendices or footnotes. With the objective to highlight recent environmental archaeology projects and their contributions to Canadian archaeology, we invite contributions from archaeologists working all across the country. Papers may be methodology-focused, discuss final results, or even preliminary data. We welcome explorations of a range of topics, such as agriculture, foodways, hygiene, and landscape change, from the pre-colonial period to the very recent past.

Student Poster Session

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Jared T. Hogan, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Alyshia Reesor, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Jacinda Sinclair, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Otis Crandell, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Mahta Sheikhi, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University
Julia Brenan, Dept. of Archaeology Graduate Society, Memorial University

Contact Email:

digitalarchaeologygroupMUN@gmail.com

Session Abstract

The Department of Archaeology Graduate (DAG) Society at Memorial University is proud to host the Student Poster Session as part of the CAA's Annual Meeting in St. John's, NL.

This session will be a safe space for students of all backgrounds and research areas in archaeology to practice presenting a poster.

This session is open to graduate and undergraduate students.

Light refreshments will be provided during the session.

Teaching/Transforming Archaeology

Session Hosting Format:

in-person session

Organizer(s):

Lisa Hodgetts, Department of Anthropology, Western University

Contact Email:

lisa.hodgetts@uwo.ca

Session Abstract

This is a time of rapid change in archaeology. We are working to move away from disciplinary methods and practices that have long upheld colonial power structures and replace them with more equitable and just approaches. We are also striving to diversify the community of archaeological practitioners, which in Canada remains largely white, straight and cisgender. Teaching is perhaps the most powerful tool we have at our disposal in these efforts. It is how we first expose people to archaeology and build their expectations about who can be an archaeologist, what archaeologists do, how they do it, and who archaeology is for. This session invites papers that explore the diverse ways we are teaching archaeology across a wide range of contexts in order to foster a more inclusive, anti-colonial practice. It understands teaching and learning in the broadest possible sense, encompassing outreach to primary and secondary school students and the wider public, training of descendant community members, post-secondary education, and more. Contributed papers are welcome and could include, among other things, case studies highlighting examples of teaching activities for particular audiences, reflections on best practices and lessons learned, and applications of scholarship on teaching and learning in archaeological education. Teaching the discipline we want to see will help us achieve it. Let’s reflect together on how to go about that in the most effective way possible.