Our Work

Surface Collection and Excavation

Kabeshinàn

Kabeshinàn is an ancestral meeting place of the Algonquin Anishinàbeg. It is the home of 13 recognized pre-contact archaeological sites, the largest being BiFw-18. The oldest site in the complex is BiFw-172 where the Tenàgàdino Zìbì (Gatineau River) meets the Kichi Zìbì (Ottawa River) and is approximately 8000 years old. Kabeshinàn is vital to understanding the trade relationships, material culture, and ways of being of our Anishinàbe Ancestors. 

ARAL - Assessment and Rescue of Archaeological Legacy at Kabeshinàn

ARAL  was launched by the NCC in 2018 in response to catastrophic spring flooding in 2017.

"...These activities have included intensive annual surface-collecting, with GIS mapping of artifact findspots as a part of an emerging strategy for rescue excavations... Designed to address the effects of climate change, this initiative includes annual surface collecting of eroding artifacts on Kabeshinàn’s shorelines, development of an effective strategy for the rescue of meaningful Anishinabe archaeological resources, as well as monitoring at regular intervals of archaeological site conditions." Ian Badgley NCC Archaeologist & Jenna Lanigan Anishinàbe Odjìbikan supervisor and team member 

Our Role

Surface collection by findspot - Using maps developed by NCC Archaeology Dept.

Rescue excavation based on findspot and previous excavation data (concentration, features, sediment data, etc.)

Erosion and loss of archaeological resources are the main factors that fuel ARAL work at Kabeshinàn.  Kabeshinàn has one of the fastest eroding shorelines along the entirety of the Kichi Zìbì (Ottawa River). The contributing factors to this detrimental erosion are, maintained artificially high water levels (dams), climate change, human activity on the river causing wakes, and human disturbance. 

Other Work

BiFw-39 -  Stromatolites / Mikinàk Asinìn

BiFw-101 -  Vincent Massey Park - Asindàsowin Endaji

AoPFN-WTP -  Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn Water Treatment Plant Site on Ozàwàshònyià Sàgahigan  (Golden Lake)

MUP-01-23 - Kàgàgì Sàgahigan / Lac Phillippe (Gatineau Park) Multi-use Pavillion

BiFw-13 -  Onigam Endaji -  Val Tetreau, Gatineau

BiFw-21 - Local Material (Kichi Zibi Chert) Quarry Site

BiFw-25 (Kabeshinàn) - 

Artifacts and Field Finds

Anishinàbe Odjìbikan uncovers a wide variety of archaeological resources that include both pre-contact and historic artifacts. Some examples include:

- Chert waste flakes (by-products of stone tool-making)

- Retouched and used flakes (use worn and repurposed chert waste flakes)

- Lithic tools (stone tools) such as projectile points, spearheads, scrapers, wedges, drill bits, awls, gravers, perforators, etc.

- Ceramics such as pre-contact clay pottery, and historic ceramics such as porcelain and tobacco pipes.

- Imported stone material tools and waste flakes (Onondaga chert, Mistissani quartzite, Ramah chert, Hudsons Bay Lowland chert, Gordon Lake chert, Kettle Point chert, etc.)

Conferences & Events

Anishinàbe Odjìbikan has been able to share our work in a variety of settings, many of which include the opportunity to travel. Our team is very grateful for these opportunities and the relationships we have built at such events. Events we have attended include:

-  WAC-10 10th World Archaeological Congress (vitrual) held in Darwin Australia, Unceded Larrakia Country (2025).

- The Canadian Archaeological Association annual conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (2024). 

- The National Trust for Canada annual conference in Toronto (2022).  We also collaborated with NTC to bring Anishinàbe Algonquin culture to their annual conference that took place in our territory (Ottawa) in the Fall of 2023.

-  The Canadian Archaeological Association annual conference held in Membertou First Nation (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia). This was the first annual conference held on and with a First Nation community (The Mi'kmaq Nation).

- The Association des Archeologues du Quebec annual conference in Mont Tremblant. This conference was the first for the AAQ in which they collaborated with a First Nation (Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation).  
- Talks and events organized by the Ottawa Historical Society

-  Presentations and sharing within our communities of Kitigàn Zìbì Anishinàbeg and Algonquins of  Pikwàkanagàn First Nation

- Various display and information tables at events throughout the National Capital Region.