Why Indigenous rights are reshaping archaeology in Canada

Why Indigenous rights are reshaping archaeology in Canada Archaeological practice is transforming in Canada to recognize Indigenous rights to and governance over cultural heritage. Dr. Kisha Supernant, Director at the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, tells us more. Archaeology in Canada is at a critical juncture. Once treated primarily as a technical discipline concerned with documenting and interpreting the material traces of the past, archaeology is now increasingly recognized as a site where Indigenous rights, governance, and cultural heritage are actively negotiated. For much of its history, archaeology functioned as a colonial practice: Indigenous ancestors were removed from the ground, cultural knowledge was extracted, and interpretations were produced without Indigenous consent or involvement. These actions were often justified in the name of science or heritage protection, but they also contributed to the ongoing denial of Indigenous rights.