Musqueam and the University of British Columbia (UBC) have been working together to use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to search for ancestors in a culturally-informed way.
Long before GPR became part of public conversation about Indian Residential Schools, Musqueam and UBC were using the technology to locate and identify unmarked graves in Musqueam’s cemeteries.
Today, this relationship continues to grow and has made Musqueam a national leader in First Nations-led GPR work and training.
What is GPR?
GPR technology uses radio waves to identify materials beneath the ground’s surface in a non-destructive and non-intrusive way. It is not like a photograph or an X-ray, and requires skilled technicians and interpreters to create meaning from the data.
This technology has become a powerful tool for Indigenous communities in searches for unmarked graves at former residential school sites. Although it can be difficult to undertake, the work is extremely important as we continue to uncover the truths about the Indian Residential School system.
Working with UBC Anthropology
With support from Musqueam leadership, the Musqueam GPR team works closely with UBC’s Anthropology Department, who assists with securing funding to buy equipment and software, as well as providing GPR training and mentorship.
This partnership is the product of a longstanding relationship between UBC Anthropology and Musqueam, and brings academic and technical expertise together with cultural and community expertise.
“Musqueam and UBC have been working to find ancestors with GPR since 2006, building out of an archaeological partnership that has its roots going back to the 1940s,” reflects UBC Anthropology’s Dr. Andrew Martindale.
“It began when Chief Delbert Guerin asked if we could find Musqueam ancestors without excavation. We took this guidance, got funding to buy equipment, and began developing our skills. Over the years the Musqueam-UBC partnership has helped communities beyond Musqueam, including in residential school landscapes.”
Dr. Martindale is part of the Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves and works with communities across Canada in their searches for loved ones lost to residential school violence.
“We face a collective challenge in building a society that might have existed without colonial violence and residential schools, as well as the specific task of finding children who disappeared,” says Dr. Martindale. “This work has to be led by Survivors and Indigenous communities, and it is best done by communities themselves. Our work helps develop the technical capacity in Indigenous communities and an understanding of how to do this work in a good way among outsiders.”
Musqueam’s approach to GPR
Through this partnership with UBC, several Musqueam staff are trained on how to use GPR technology in Indigenous contexts. Kevin Wilson, a Musqueam band member and staff, learned about GPR out of personal interest and pure chance.
Kevin acknowledges this work is difficult, emotionally and technically, and believes the best way forward is for First Nations to lead these studies in a culturally-informed and respectful way.
“GPR work is important, but it’s also very sensitive. I was taught for sensitive work like this, we need to move slowly and make sure everyone’s needs are taken care of.”
Musqueam has become a national leader in GPR work, having amassed what is considered to be one of the largest GPR datasets from a First Nations burial context. This dataset is being used today to help inform other studies around the country.
Today, Musqueam’s GPR team, together with UBC Anthropology, are providing GPR training and support for communities across BC as well as taking on GPR contracts for clients like the City of Vancouver Parks Board and Metro Vancouver Parks.
As the Musqueam GPR team lead, Kevin now works closely with Dr. Martindale to train other First Nations to collect and interpret GPR data, and supports First Nations across BC that are conducting Indian Residential School GPR studies.
Musqueam’s GPR team works in a culturally-guided and informed way, prioritizing the health and safety of the crew doing this important work while ensuring communities are involved in and learning through all stages of a project.
“We’ve heard from the communities we work with that some outside, for-profit GPR service providers will fly in, collect data, and fly away to create their reports with little guidance from the First Nation’s community,” Kevin explains. “In some cases, the communities never see the results they’ve paid tens-of-thousands of dollars for. Our approach is to work with communities with an inclusive and collaborative approach right from the start and through to the project’s completion.”
The Future of Musqueam’s GPR work
Musqueam and UBC are among the first in Canada to embark on this model of GPR training and support. As the work Canada does as a nation to uncover and confront our country’s long history of colonial violence continues, it is important this work moves forward in a way that does not add to this trauma. This work has the potential to heal if done in the right way, for the right reasons, and with the right people at the helm.
“Working with GPR won’t fix things overnight,” says Kevin. “But it is another step in the healing process if communities choose to do it. I am proud to be a part of a team at Musqueam that is helping to heal and lead the way.”
Click here to learn more about this important partnership between UBC Anthropology and Musqueam Archaeology.
This article was written by Aviva Rathbone, Odette Wilson & Kevin Wilson
