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Solene Mallet Gauthier – PhD Candidate

My research will focus on Métis foodways and identity through the analysis of plant and insect remains found on Métis overwintering sites.

  Sara Lefurgey – MA Student

Stephanie Halmhofer - PhD Student

Since 2012, I have worked as an archaeologist in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, Ontario, and British Columbia. I finished my Masters degree at the University of Toronto, where I studied rare blown glass beads uncovered at Sexwamin (Garden Bay), British Columbia. Since then, my interests have turned to something called pseudoarchaeology, which refers to the intentional misinterpretation, misrepresentation, and/or manipulation of archaeology for alternative and speculative theories about human history (aka archaeological conspiracy theories), and the appearance of pseudoarchaeology within conspirituality (ideologies built from blending conspiracy theories with New Age spiritualism). I am also interested in how the historic and contemporary North American far-right uses pseudoarchaeology, conspiritual or not. My PhD research examines the archaeology of conspirituality and conspiritual landscapes through Brother XII and the Aquarian Foundation, a historic right-wing conspiritual movement whose headquarters were located on the south coast of BC from 1927 to 1933.

Dawn Wambold – PhD Candidate

I completed my BA in Anthropology with distinction at Athabasca University in 2017. Later that same year, I started my MA with the Exploring Métis Identity Through Archaeology (EMITA) project. My MA research focused on the stories that the archaeological record can tell about the daily life and relationships of Métis women at overwintering sites. For my PhD, I am continuing my work with EMITA but shifting my focus to the Métis of Southern ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. Through the use of archaeology I hope to gain a greater understanding of the earliest connections of the Métis to this landscape.

Maria Nelson - MA Student

Maria is a Ukrainian Métis woman residing on Treaty 6 territory. Her family comes from across the prairies, and is connected to the Métis families of Lavallee, Piche, Arcand, Vandale, Anderson, Cayen, McGillis, Grant, Poitras, Ross, Short, McKay, and many others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Anthropology from the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. She is working on her Masters under Dr. Kisha Supernant. Her research will focus on looking at Métis deathscapes as a form of erasure, dispossession, and reconnection, seeking to identify areas that have a high potential for Métis connections and work toward recognizing and commemorating the Métis ancestors in these places.