An archaeological field school located at a national historic site near Fort St. John, British Columbia, is uncovering 12,500 years of First Nations history, with discoveries including ancient stone tools and animal bones. The site, known as Tse’k’wa, is owned by Doig River, Prophet River, and West Moberly First Nations, whose Dane-zaa ancestors have inhabited the area for generations.
According to West Moberly Elder Laura Webb, Tse’k’wa is an ancient archaeological site that validates the presence of the Dane-zaa people for over 12,500 years. The artifacts found at the site are believed to be at least as old as that timeframe. Tse’k’wa is among more than 57,000 documented archaeological sites in British Columbia, providing a historical record of human settlement dating back to the last ice age.
The site serves as a platform for the nations involved to share their rich history, culture, and language with the public. While the public can visit the space, the field school activities are carried out by students from the University of Northern British Columbia. Elder Webb described Tse’k’wa as a gathering place where they aim to showcase their cultural practices and harmonious way of living with nature.
The region was once home to long-extinct giant bison as the landscape transitioned from grassland to boreal forest after a glacial lake receded. Additionally, the area is believed to have been a site of ritual significance, evidenced by the burial of two ravens a thousand years apart, a symbol of spiritual importance in various Indigenous cultures.
Researchers have unearthed a wealth of archaeological findings at Tse’k’wa, including stone tools, animal bones, obsidian fragments, and a 10,500-year-old stone bead, the oldest human adornment discovered north of the Yucatán Peninsula. Garry Oker, an elder from Doig River First Nation, expressed how these discoveries align with the oral traditions passed down through generations, connecting the artifacts to their cultural narratives.
The Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, established in 2012 by the three nations, aims to preserve the site as an educational center for cultural teachings and community gatherings. The name “Tse’k’wa” translates to “rock house” in the Dane-zaa Záágéʔ language, referring to the cave on the site. The society’s executive director, Alyssa Currie, highlighted the importance of reclaiming cultural heritage and sharing ancestral stories with the wider community, emphasizing the exceptional link between the archaeological artifacts and the preserved Dane-zaa narratives.
