Rossdale Flats - Turtle Island Cultural Resource Management Inc.

2 Alberta Native News May, 2009
Students join scientists
in Rossdale flats
by John Copley
During the past several years Edmonton’s Rossdale
Flats has been the subject of much controversy and
despair. The relatives of ancient pioneers and their
Aboriginal counterparts silently mourn what they
describe as “a failure by government to ensure that the
proper research was done to determine the numbers
and the names of those buried” a century ago in the
capital city’s River Valley. The burial site, which is
said to encompass a large piece of Rossdale Flats, as
it is known today, was located just down the path from
the gates of old Fort Edmonton. Before then, the area
was also known as a prominent gathering place, and
history indicates that more than one fort or settlement
was built in the area over the centuries. Though more
than 40 different artifacts, including human bones,
have been found in the area since the mid-1940’s it
was the discovery of a child’s remains in early July of
2001 that sparked new interest. Today, concerned citizens,
both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, are trying
to ensure that every body buried in the Rossdale area
is treated with the respect it deserves.
It was the concern of local citizens and especially
the vocal interests of various Aboriginal groups from
across the province that finally captured the attention
of city managers. As a result, many months of
research, inquiries, town meetings, private gatherings
and finally, excavation has taken place, including the
most recent dig, which took place from May 11-15,
and included a component of students from
Edmonton’s Amiskwaciy Academy.
“It’s been great,” smiled 16 year old Academy student,
Samantha Dornbusch, one of three students to
attend the Rossdale dig for the entire week project.
“I’d heard about the Flats, of course, but didn’t really
realize the significance of the history that accompanied
the area. It’s been a new and somewhat exciting
experience, especially when you sift through the dirt
and find unusual looking objects.”
Dornbusch said she volunteered
to become part
of the student body participating
in the week-long
venture for a couple of
reasons - neither of which
was to get out of regular
classes for a few days.
“No, that’s not it,” she
grinned, “I really do have
an interest, not just about
the events of the past, but
also of the future. I’m an
outdoor type of person
and I think that maybe
archaeology could be for
me. It has its bit if excitement
and the people I’ve
worked with out here are
really great. The archeologist took time to give us
some background on the area and explained the
importance of what we are doing to help make sure
the area is simply an historical one, not an area where
bodies are buried.”
Gareth Spicer is the principal archaeologist for
Turtle Island Cultural Resource Management (CRM),
a Calgary-based enterprise that helps companies,
organizations, corporations, municipalities and individuals
assess what historical relevance they may
meet up with whenever they are preparing to construct,
build or work in areas unfamiliar to them In
addition to archaeological, historic and Aboriginal traditional
resource management services, Turtle Island
Cultural Resource Management provides palaeontological
services through its relationship with Aeon
Paleontological Consulting Ltd. This partnership
enables Turtle Island CRM to facilitate a complete
range of cultural resource management, assessment
and mitigation services
to its clients.
“Turtle Island CRM,”
added Spicer, “also provides
cultural resource
management capabilities
to the Pioneer
Professional Services
Group as a component of
our full range of environmental
reconnaissance
and planning services.”
Spicer noted that
though he wasn’t sure
what to expect at first
from participating students,
he was very happy
with the results.
“It’s been a great experience,”
he said, noting
that his week-long venture
into the earth at
Rossdale “helped provide
new insight for the
students and new experiences
for those that were
working together on the
site. The students
L-R) Students Destiny Thomas, 16; Zach Auger, 17; Teacher/chaperone
Holly Isert and 16 year old Samantha Dornbusch
Amiskwaciy Academy teacher Holly Isert and
archaeologist Gareth Spicer.
worked very hard and were never late. It was a good
experience for everyone concerned; I’m happy that we
had the opportunity to add a little knowledge and provide
a little insight into exactly what archaeology is all
about. The students gained some hands-on knowledge
and learned just how important it is to recognize and
preserve historical sites and the artifacts found in,
around and under them.”
“I didn’t know what to expect at first,” said 17 year
old Zach Auger, another of the students who attended
and participated at the dig site. “ I’ve really enjoyed
being a part of this project, and I’ve definitely got a little
more respect for the kind of work involved. It’s a
tough grind, digging and sifting through dirt and your
muscles get sore but it is all worth while. We’re learning
something new and we’re participating in something
that not everyone gets the chance. It’ll be nice if
we find something unusual.”
Unusual, in this case, turned out be twofold for
those involved in the week long dig. First, the weather
was about as miserable as one could expect for mid-
May. Cold winds, occasional rain and even a little
snow greeted the students each morning as they
arrived at the project site, and continued for most of
their work day, but teacher/chaperone, Holly Isert,
Continued on page 6

6 Alberta Native News May, 2009
Students join scientists
Continued from page 2
said no one complained.
“The students,” noted Isert, an hour after completing
the engagement, “were absolutely outstanding; I’m
very proud of them and I know they are quite happy
that they decided to participate.”
Unusual also came in the form of bison bones that
were unearthed at the dig site. Discovered on the second
day of work, what appeared to be just a few fragments
of bone turned into what appears to be most of
a skeleton.”
Destiny Thomas is another of the 16 year old Grade
10 students to participate in the dig. She expressed
delight at having decided to get involved.
“Oh, it is a little hard on the muscles,” she laughed,
“but it also helps to get you in better condition. I know
some of the kids found it to be hard work, but I’ve
really enjoyed it. Working outside is a good experience
and working on a project of this (magnitude)
makes it even more special. The process you have to
go through to make sure that you don’t miss a single
speck of historical evidence is quite amazing. You get
quite a good idea of what people who choose archaeology
for a career have to overcome to be successful.
It’s not as easy as it looks in the books; there’s a lot of
Samantha Dornbusch, 16 - siphons through dirt
in search of artifacts.
hard work that goes into preserving history.”
Both Destiny and Samantha take part in the schools
K&E (Knowledge and Employability) program, a
course that offers students the opportunity to gain
hands-on experience in a variety of ventures, both
indoors and out. Holly Isert is the K&E teacher at
Amiskwaciy Academy.
“The initiative,” she explained, “provides students
with alternative types of education, most of which is
career focused. It combines academics with occupational
competency. It’s an amazing and popular program
and the students are doing extremely well with
it. Attendance rates have increased and the students
look forward to each assignment; though more wished
they’d put their names in for this latest learning opportunity.”
Those who did participate were treated to a real
learning experience.
“Yes, and I think they also learned a great deal about
themselves,” noted Isert. “It was actually quite an
overwhelming experience. The kids had a great attitude;
they were always on time and they never once
complained about anything, including the miserable
weather. They hardly took a break; they love to learn
and they were really into accomplishing their goals. It
was remarkable and I know that each student who participated
now has a better understanding of the commitment
it takes to see a project through to the end.
They did an outstanding job!”
The Academy’s Elder, Francis Whiskeyjack, also
visited the site at Rossdale.
“He did more than visit,” chuckled Isert. “He
worked right alongside the students and even dug his
own hole; he did tell me later though, that his muscles
were also sore.”
The K&E Course was adopted from an initiative
announced in October 2008 when Edmonton Public
Schools announced that “in November 2002, a recommendation
to develop a comprehensive strategy for
school to work transition referred to as Career
Focused Education (CFE), was approved by the Board
of Trustees. The CFE framework was developed to
provide teachers with supplementary tools, resources
and program delivery options to support the teaching
of Alberta Education’s Career and Technology Studies
(CTS) program.
17 year old Zach Auger works at the Rossdale
dig- site.
Destiny Thomas, 16 - considering a career in
archeaology.
Ultimately, the goal of CFE is to ensure that every
junior and senior high school student is equipped with
the skills, attitudes and abilities required to complete
high school and student transitioning into post-secondary
studies and the workplace.