(Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

PRESERVING HISTORY

Archaeological work in Riverside Park digs for better understanding of Secwépemc cultural heritage

Sep 22, 2020 | 4:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Archaeology teams are getting a deeper look into Riverside Park this month, ahead of construction of the City of Kamloops flood protection project.

The park is situated right near the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, and the area’s history points to it being a busy contact point between people. With that comes the potential for historical, potentially ancient discoveries.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops are working together to make sure items of cultural and historial significant to the land and its people aren’t disturbed or destroyed. An archaeological impact assessment is underway along the South Thompson River as part of the upcoming Riverside Park Flood Protection Project.

“Not only is cultural heritage an important value for Tk’emlúps, it is also a provincial law. The Heritage Conservation Act also facilitates the protection and conservation of heritage property in B.C.” says Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir. “Tk’emlúps needs to take the lead in reclaiming our history and having the Indigenous voice to interpret the cultural findings.”

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Yearly flooding poses a risk to the sewer infrastructure running under Riverside Park. But before the protection work begins, the archaeology team from Tk’emlúps and Golder Associates is looking for artifacts or remains in the area.

“This is meant to be a celebratory project which is grounded on infrastructure improvement,” says Jen Fretz, the City’s Director of Civic Operations. “The infrastructure improvement has to do with a sanitary sewer — which is not a super fun subject always, but it benefits both the City of Kamloops as well as Tk’emlúps.”

For the next two weeks, the team will be gathering data around the historical content in the soil. Golder Associates senior archaeologist Nicole Nicholls says should substantial components be found, the work will become more specific.

“We would go into the areas where we are finding intact deposits and we would do what we call an evaluation. Which is more what you would picture archaeologists doing traditionally. It’s what you see on TV, where they’re excavating one-by-one units by hand, very slowly, looking for intact features, intact deposits.”

Casimir notes that Secwépemc people have been here for far longer than the first fur traders who made their way into the region. Tk’emlúps Chief and Council want to remind residents that artifacts can be found all throughout Secwépemc lands and need to be treated with respect.

If remains or artifacts are found, Casimir says the public is asked to refrain from moving the items, and contact the TteS Natural Resource Department or chief and council.

“In the past there have been situations of looting or removal of cultural treasures from their homes. Tk’emlúps would like to ask the public to please leave any artifacts where you find them,” stresses Casimir. “We know that ancestral remains are found throughout the territory. Above and below the ground, in trees, or high features, near water sources, in grasslands, on mountain terraces and on sloping landscapes.”

Moving forward, Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says the hope is the historical information gathered can be used when planning future projects in the area.

“And I’m very pleased that we are starting it with extensive archaeological review of this site so that we don’t inadvertently disturb anything that could help us in our understanding of our cultures.”