Days 15 and 16 of the Heritage Preservation Project!

We rounded out the calendar year with trips to our neighbouring communities Waswanipi and Mistissini.

In Waswanipi we visited Cultural Coordinator Diane Cooper at the riverside location of the Waswanipi Culture Department.  Diane’s previous museum training means she is well aware of the different risks to heritage collections.  Insects are common threats, feasting on the proteins available in hides and furs.  And strong light and UV radiation can cause fading and deterioration.  Diane takes different measures to protect the collections in her care.  To kill off active insect attacks, she places the affected artefacts in the freezer.  To prevent light damage, she moves artefacts to darker areas of the building or places them under covers.  Specialized knowledge is necessary so that freezing and shading are carried out in the correct way with artefact-safe materials.

Diane Cooper showing us a moose hide top that suffered some light damage in the past.  The top is now kept out of direct sunlight, under a cover.

Diane Cooper holding up a stretched beaver pelt with a moth problem, destined for treatment in the freezer.

We enjoyed looking at all of the artefacts, art works and photographs currently on display in the building, and then toured other spaces in the community which may become the new home for the Culture Department in the future.  Safety and environmental protection are top priorities for Diane in her evaluation of the spaces, as is adequate room for the storage and display of artefacts.  We look forward to hearing about future plans for the Culture Department.

Our second stop in Waswanipi was at the Cree Trappers Association, where we interviewed Fur Officer Paul Dixon.  After looking at some recently purchased furs, Paul revealed to us his detailed recordkeeping system, through which he not only tracks fur purchases and sales, but the conditions on the trap lines and changes to the animal populations.  In addition to these valuable records, Paul collects issues of the Nation magazine.  Both of these collections deserve protection, and Paul was interested in hearing our recommendations for long-term care of paper materials, including using acid-free storage sleeves, folders and boxes to support the items and delay acidic discolouration and deterioration. Of course, Paul is mastering the first rule of preservation – collect!  

Paul Dixon, showing us just one of his collections – boxes of back-issues of the Nation magazine.

Our site visits have ended, and we are now home in Ouje-Bougoumou.  Stay tuned for announcements of next ventures of the Heritage Preservation Project on the ACCI website!  

Cree Regional Authority archaeology team moves to ACCI

With the November 23 arrival of the second truckload of digging equipment, reports, files and other material, the Cree Regional Authority (CRA) archaeology team completed its move to Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute. An earlier load containing boxes of artifacts arrived in October.

Archaeology at the CRA is carried out by the Cree Culture and Language department, directed by Willie Iserhoff. For years, the CRA has carried out projects in Eeyou Istchee, based at its archaeology lab in Val-d’Or. From thousands-of-year-old sites, to winter camps from the 1950s, and from trading posts to historic beluga whale or goose hunting sites, the CRA has carried out a wide range of projects aimed at engaging the Cree communities in the exploration of their rich history and archaeological heritage. Recently, an important focus has been the areas affected by hydroelectric development on the Eastmain and Rupert rivers.  

The integration of such a large volume of materials into the controlled museum environment at ACCI is huge job. Under the supervision of conservator Claire Neily, all items arriving at the Institute were sealed in plastic bags for at least 36 hours, after which the gradual move to the controlled spaces and supervised unpacking began. 

The move to Aanischaaukamikw marks a new phase in the CRA’s collaboration with the Institute. The new lab is modern and well appointed; more important will be the collaboration with the Aanischaaukamikw team, including museum, cultural programming, language and educational specialists. Archaeologists David Denton, Dario Izaguirre and Francis Marcoux are already making themselves at home at the Institute and are looking forward to engaging the Cree communities in new projects, including collaborative research and community exhibitions.