Speaker: Ernest G. Walker
The talk is part of the Plains Anthropological Society Conference being hosted Oct 16 -20, 2024 in Lethbridge. To attend the talk is complimentary; if you would like to participate in the preceding banquet, tickets can be purchased here: https://plainsanthropologicalsociety.org/annual-meeting
The interpretative development of archaeological sites has a long history across North America and internationally. The
process of achieving this type of heritage preservation can be fraught with financial and political constraints although engagement with the public at large is perhaps more important now than ever before. For the Great Plains region, this approach is in many ways made more difficult because of the relative lack of built structural elements and the perceived lack of dramatic landscape features. The perception of the Plains as the “big empty” is pervasive and reflects a lack of true understanding of the unique features of this magnificent region. Using Wanuskewin Heritage Park located near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as an
example, archaeology, natural history, and contemporary Indigenous cultural aspirations are examined in relation to current attempts to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Inscription. In addition to archaeology, aspects of grassland restoration/preservation and the role that bison have played are critical components of this epic Canadian story.