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One of the goals of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society (KHS) is to bring the past into the future through archaeology; this will allow a new generation to be more aware of the lives and practices of their ancestors. Bringing the past into the future also provides opportunity for the elders to communicate with youths. The elders can pass on their traditional knowledge to the new generation, so that they will not forget their own culture.

Through Communities Memories, the KHS also hopes to promote the values and the prehistory of Inuit Culture to those who are not familiar with them.

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Bringing the Past into the Future Through Archaeology
July, 2004
Iqaluktuuq, Victoria Island, Nunavut

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Every summer during the archaeological field season, elders are invited to go out into the field. The field director, Dr. Max Friesen from the University of Toronto and his crew members are always excited to have elders around because the elders will share their stories with them, help identify artifacts and record oral history.

Photo by W. Kok.

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Elders Identify Tent Ring
2003
Iqaluktuuq, Victoria Island, Nunavut

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Elders love to share their stories with others. It is always an exciting event for both the researchers and the elders. When it comes to discussing artifacts, researchers get to hear the elders' stories of the usage of artifacts found during excavation, while elders get to share their history to people with a particular interest in the past.

Frank Analok is one of the senior elders in Cambridge Bay. He has the most stories to share and loves going out to the archaeological site every year. He is very knowledgable about traditional tools. Here, he is sitting in a shooting pit, explaining how it was used to hunt caribou with bow and arrow.

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Group of Elders and Youths
2003
Iqaluktuuq, Victoria Island, Nunavut

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This photo shows the group of elders and youths who participated in the Elder's Day at an archaeological field site. This trip allowed the elders to participate in the identification of artifacts and to pass on their knowledge to the younger people who attended.

The Kitikmeot Heritage Society helps to promote the sharing of knowledge between the different generations through archaeology as well as other cultural-history events.