Publishing CRM and Academic Research in Canada: Where, How, and Why

Session Hosting Format: 
in-person session
Organizer(s): 
  • Helen Dunlop (Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Journal of Archaeology)
  • Todd Kristensen (Archaeological Survey of Alberta)
Contact Email: 
todd.kristensen@gov.ab.ca
Session Description (300 word max): 

The majority of archaeological work in Canada is not being disseminated to its potential. This session offers exposure to provincial, national, and international publication venues as well as the rationales to publish. In particular, how can we share Cultural Resource Management data? How do we publish for descendent communities? And have modern conditions changed the utility of theses, dissertations, and the value of publishing them?  Presentations will help guide future submissions, challenge conventional ideas about publishing, and discuss broader impacts of knowledge production in Canadian archaeology.

Presentations
Changing roles of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta’s Occasional Paper Series ( Todd Kristensen )
Presentation format: In-Person
Author(s):
  • Todd Kristensen - Archaeological Survey of Alberta

The Occasional Paper Series was first published in 1976 in Alberta to share archaeological information among professionals. The goals of the colloquially named “blue book” were to rapidly disseminate important work conducted in the province every year and drive positive change in cultural resource management (CRM). The series was discontinued in the 1990s and re-invigorated in 2016 with new mandates. The blue book occupies a niche in Alberta archaeology; we use it to inform principles and technologies employed in CRM, justify site protection and management strategies, spur research, and develop scholars. This talk showcases blue book successes and challenges along with future goals as the series evolves. In particular, I discuss a thematic volume designed to disseminate important content from theses and dissertations about archaeology in Alberta and surrounding provinces. This volume informs a larger debate: what role do jurisdictional publications play in knowledge production and how we can adapt to do that better?    
Field of (CRM) Dreams: if you build it, will they come? ( Jode MacKay )
Presentation format: In-Person
Author(s):
  • Jode MacKay - Circle CRM Group


The CAA website lists  a series of Professional Responsibilities and Ethical Conduct; two of these principles, outline an obligation to ‘present the results of archaeological investigation in a timely and accessible manner’; and ‘to recognize that documentation of any archaeological investigation should, within a reasonable period of time, become available to others with legitimate research interests.” Anecdotally, any argument that the CRM Industry is adequately fulfilling either of these obligations is limited. In an effort to navigate the above, Circle is developing a project to disseminate important research related results. Currently, this effort is focused on creating an ‘in-house journal’, to establish a setting for a variety of professionally written articles; incorporating long form pieces, shorter detailed field reports and even including current book reviews. The key goal of this project is to ultimately transition into a periodical that is more widely disseminated, while concurrently providing research and writing opportunities (within a tailored ‘academic’ environment) to all staff members. Work for this project launched officially in January 2026, outlining a mandate, goals, format, structure, etc., and has progressed to developing and assigning to staff a series of long form articles, looking towards a print version by December 2026.
Stories Worth Telling: Some Challenges and Potential Solutions to Publishing Cultural Resource Management Research in Canada ( Erik Johannesson )
Presentation format: In-Person
Author(s):
  • Erik Johannesson - Lifeways of Canada Limited

While the majority of archaeological investigations conducted in Canada occur in the context of Cultural Resource Management, the preponderance of reports pertaining to this work are not published and are often relegated to the “grey literature” and not disseminated widely.  This paper examines some of the challenges of, and potential solutions to, publishing data collected via Cultural Resource Management projects. This includes the nature of technical reports, which in satisfying regulatory statutes often do not lend themselves readily for publication in venues directed at archaeological research or for dissemination to a popular audience. Another challenge is a lack of training in writing, publication, and presentation in archaeological consulting in general. I draw on comparative examples from Sweden to highlight how both archaeological consultants and government regulators can create novel avenues for disseminating archaeological data and foster an environment conducive to promoting heritage work.  Finally, the paper calls attention to recent publications in Alberta to highlight that there are ample opportunities for disseminating archaeological research, both traditional and more unconventional, and that archaeological publications need not be confined to typical books and articles, but can include art, poetry, and the performance as well.