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Archaeologist Letitia Pokiak digs deep into Inuvialuit history

Letitia Pokiak keeps getting drawn back to her roots.
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Inuvialuit archaeologist Letitia Pokiak in the field at the ancient village of Kuukpak in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Pokiak has worked on several research projects in the area, including recently verifying plans for the TUK M-18 natural gas well do not interfere with cultural heritage in the area. Photo courtesy of Letitia Pokiak

Letitia Pokiak keeps getting drawn back to her roots.

Currently based on the unceded traditional territory of the KSA国际影视传媒檕moks and Pentlatch First Nation on Vancouver Island, currently known as Comox Valley, the Inuvialuit-born archaeologist was back in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region recently to investigate any culturally-important heritage sites in the planned corridor for the Inuvialuit Energy Security Project (IESP) which could be potentially affected by the development of the TUK M-18 natural-gas well.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not the first time sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been able to research her heritage.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was involved in the Arctic Cultural Heritage At Risk (CHAR) project, led by Dr. Max Friesen of the U of T,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his archaeological project was a five-year study that included the excavation of a sod house at the ancient village of Kuukpak, which is located across from the ancient village of Kittigazuit.

SA国际影视传媒淭he excavation allowed me to trace my Inuvialuit roots and record ancient artifacts: instruments that have carried us forward as Inuvialuit since time immemorial.SA国际影视传媒

This time was different, however, as it was her first trip after graduating in the field. After successfully defending her thesis in September of 2020, she was awarded her MasterSA国际影视传媒檚 degree in Anthropology earlier this year.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a long time coming SA国际影视传媒 Pokiak told Inuvik Drum sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been working in the field since she got involved as a summer student while getting her undergraduate degree, which was in the early 2000s.

But the roots of her love of uncovering the secrets of the past go much deeper.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a person who was raised traditionally, ISA国际影视传媒檝e always been connected to our culture,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淢y first experience with archaeology was in high school, when myself and fellow high school friends went to Mexico to tour pyramids and culturally-rich sites that span thousands of years. I eventually became interested in archaeology while attending university.

SA国际影视传媒淎nthropology as a discipline was introduced to me in Mexico as part of an immersion program, studying the history, language and culture. As a cultured person, who was studied by SA国际影视传媒榦therSA国际影视传媒 anthropologists, itSA国际影视传媒檚 weird, ironic even, that I became the ethnographer studying a culture SA国际影视传媒榦therSA国际影视传媒 than my own.SA国际影视传媒

In her most recent study, Pokiak determined there were no historical sites in danger of being affected in the proposed corridor of the IESP SA国际影视传媒 though she noted the general area where the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas plant is to be built has other known cultural sites.

Looking forward, Pokiak said she is interested in connecting with other Indigenous cultures around the world to SA国际影视传媒渄etermine how they are moving forward as Indigenous People that were also impacted by colonization.SA国际影视传媒

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think that I necessarily want to study archaeological sites in ancient countries, though checking out Machu Picchu in Peru would be pretty cool,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 am very interested in travelling, to experience culture and traditional practices; I would love to eventually travel to Australia and New Zealand, to witness firsthand how the Aborigines and the M膩ori practice their traditions.SA国际影视传媒



About the Author: Eric Bowling, Local Journalism Initiative

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