Home, Home on the Rez
Eldon Yellowhorn, Associate Professor, grew up on the Peigan Indian Reserve, now the Piikani First Nation. He attended the day school on the reserve before completing his schooling in Fort Macleod, Alberta. He acquired his interest in natural history by exploring the countryside around the family farm. After high school he began his academic career at The University of Lethbridge, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Dr. Yellowhorn studied geography and archaeology at The University of Calgary and then began graduate studies at Simon Fraser University and McGill University. His studies in archaeology led him to participate in several research projects that expanded archaeological knowledge of the northern plains. Dr. Yellowhorn received his tenure in 2008 and teaches First Nations Studies and Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. His interests include Blackfoot mythology and folklore studies. He is currently directing a field study in historical archaelogy on the Piikani First Nation.
1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
For several years now, archaeologists working on the Piikani First Nation have been examining the early years of reserve life. By studying the experience of the Piikani community using archaeological methods the researchers intend to shed light on a poorly known era when Piikani people were leaving behind the ancient culture of their ancestors and settling onto the lands reserved for their use and occupation to take up farming. Eldon Yellowhorn, the lead researcher, reports on the results of this project and relates the work completed so far and what remains to be done in future seasons.