JAN NEWS: The Heritage Conservation Act is in urgent need of reform. Thanks to Brian Thom, UVic professor for his piece @ timescolonist.com – “The ancient objects, places, & people buried in archaeological sites across B.C. have intrinsic value which deserve our respect.

JANUARY NEWS: the B.C. government is postponing changes to the Heritage Conservation Act, which governs the designation & protection of heritage sites. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said more time is needed to consult with First Nations & other groups. Visit cbc.ca or vancouversun.com for more info.

JANUARY NEWS: Our Owner & Principal, Amanda Marshall and Archaeologist Suzy Carruthers attended the 23rd Annual BC Natural Resources Forum (BCNRF) at the Prince George Conference & Civic Centre and said the forum was a great success! They got to catch up with our colleague and friend Brady McBride!

Heart Month. In Canada, cardiovascular diseases are the 2nd leading cause of death and THE leading cause of premature death of women. Traditional risk factors - smoking, weight, exercise, alcohol, drugs - are crucial but often underestimate the dangers for women. Visit WearRedCanada.ca

National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack & Action Against Islamophobia: on January 29, 2017, a person entered the Islamic Cultural Centre, killed six people & injured 19 others. Ignorance fuels fear. Education is key. We must promote understanding & respect among all Canadians. 💚

With global instability & conflict on the rise, the Int’l Day of Peaceful Coexistence highlights diverse cultures, values, ways of life, and beliefs, & the role of education in promoting tolerance. It’s an opportunity for the global community to reaffirm its commitment to the UN principles. 💚 ☮️

Today marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp. Marking this important anniversary and the Int’l Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, UNESCO is working to teach about the Holocaust globally. 💚🙌

International Day of Clean Energy - Energy is at the core of a 2X challenge: leaving no one behind & protecting the planet. Clean energy is crucial. The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development & environmental sustainability is crucial for the world’s vulnerable communities. 🔥💚 🌎

January 24th is the International Day of Education. UNESCO reports that 250 million children and adolescents are out of school, & 763 million adults are illiterate. UNESCO calls on the international community to reinforce the right to education to meet the challenges of the 21st century. 🙌 💚

The gov’t shared in December about the investment of over $2M for Indigenous-led conservation initiatives through the INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS FOR SPECIES AT RISK FUND to protect and recover species at risk, and other significant species and their habitat on Indigenous lands or territories. 👏💚

In December, the gov’t announced $19.6M for 82 Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives to support locally led climate solutions, species-at-risk conservation, & First Nations Guardians programs to safeguard nature, create meaningful jobs, strengthen cultural connections & promote economic growth. 👏👍

Over the break, we saw a 2024 film, by Chris Auchter. In 1985, the Haida Nation changed the course of Canadian history. The defenders called for the government to work with Indigenous people to find a way to protect the land and the future. You can see the parallels today. Go to nfb.ca to watch! 🙌🔥

While on our holidays the 3rd anniversary of National Ribbon Skirt Day was commemorated. We remember the courage of Isabella Kulak, a Grade 5 student in 2022, who wore a handmade ribbon skirt to school and was told it did not meet the dress code, inspiring a global movement of solidarity. 🔥💚

The Haudenosaunee have 13 ceremonies throughout the year representing the 13 moons throughout the year, expressing thanks to the people, the natural world, the spirit world and the creator. This Mid-Winter Ceremony is a time of renewing responsibilities for the coming year. 💚🔥

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The Kleanza Offices will be closed Dec 22 to Jan 5th. We celebrate 22-month-old Georgia, who won our Kleanza Kids Christmas Card Contest! She painted this heart, reminding us that all we need is LOVE. We wish you all love, peace on earth, kindness and goodwill now and always. 💚♥️💚♥️💚

Conservation and archaeological investigation work at Marlborough Mound, a 4,400-year-old Neolithic monument, has officially been approved, ensuring preservation for future generations. Great news for archaeology and heritage stewardship. Story Credit: Jaryd Bellas-Menzie, LinkedIn

At a remote rock shelter called Rimrock Draw in Oregon, researchers have uncovered astonishing evidence of human activity that predates the oldest known settlements on the continent - finds that point to a thriving human presence during the Last Glacial Maximum, nearly 18,000 to 20,000 years ago!

A team of archaeologists working high on the Aurlandsfjellet mountain plateau in Norway has discovered a well-preserved 1,500-year-old reindeer trapping system revealed by retreating ice. The first large-scale wooden structure to be found melting out of the ice there and possibly anywhere in Europe.

FINAL DAY TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN!! The Kleanza Repatriation Leadership Award supports Indigenous repatriation leadership, empowering Indigenous communities to reclaim cultural heritage, exercise self-determination, and heal from the impacts of colonialism. LAST DAY TO APPLY! Go to Kleanza.com

A sacred pipe returns to Whitecap Dakota First Nation after 135 years, part of a private collection from a Saskatoon family. Repatriation is a recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples to protect and maintain their culture in the ways that they determine. Story Credit: Jeremy Warren, CBC News

3 DAYS LEFT TO GO!!! The Kleanza Repatriation Leadership Award goes to an individual who, through community-led processes, prioritizes the return of ancestral remains, cultural belongings and the associated knowledge, to their rightful Indigenous communities. Apply at kleanza.com!

A years-long push to reclaim a kayak of the Inuvialuit, led to the historic repatriation of 62 Inuit, First Nations and Métis objects, that had been held in vaults in the Vatican Museums. They were flown to Montreal and arrived last Saturday. Story Credit: Juanita Taylor, CBC News.

5 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY!! The Kleanza Repatriation Leadership Award goes to an individual who, through community-led processes, prioritizes the return of ancestral remains, cultural belongings and the associated knowledge, to their rightful Indigenous communities. Go to kleanza.com for info and apply!

Today is Human Rights Day. The 2025 Theme – Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials. In this time of turbulence and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection and alienation, today reaffirms the values of human rights. Go to un.org and canada.ca for more info!

1 WEEK TO APPLY FOR FINAL AWARD OF 2025! The Kleanza Repatriation Leadership Award is for an individual who, through community-led processes, prioritizes the return of ancestral remains, cultural belongings and the associated knowledge to their rightful Indigenous communities. Info at kleanza.com!

DAY 15 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Online and digital spaces should empower women and girls. Yet every day, for millions, the digital world has become a minefield of harassment, abuse, and control. Learn about the UNiTE campaign and take action at unwomen.org.

Today we commemorate the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre. Events focus on the 14 women killed and taking action to end gender-based violence, including calls for policy change, community reflection, & educational initiatives. If you or someone you know is in an emergency situation, call 911.

DAY 9 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Young people need to feel supported to establish boundaries, speak up against violence, & be shown healthy ways of dealing with conflict. Encourage open conversations at home, in schools & online about respect, empathy a& consent.

APPLY FOR OUR LAST AWARD OF 2025! The Kleanza Repatriation Leadership Award is for an individual who, through community-led processes, prioritizes the return of ancestral remains, cultural belongings and the associated knowledge to their rightful Indigenous communities. kleanza.com has more info!

Worldwide, an estimated 1 in 3 women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. Yet, sexual harassment remains shrouded in a culture of silence. It is an insidious expression of gender inequality, and knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Check our bio to learn more.

DAY 6 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: “The unbridled freedom that cyber platforms offer to those bent on harming innocent people means we must constantly introduce new safety controls…” - Teenah Jutton, National Assembly of Mauritius. The link to the full story is in our bio.

FINAL DAY TO APPLY for our Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

DAY 5 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: The drivers of displacement are varied - its effects are devastating. Every woman and girl has the right to safety, no matter the context they are surviving. Go to the link in our bio to get info, resources and learn what you can do.

Apply for our Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award before NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

DAY 4 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Virtual Violence is Violence. Online Abuse is Abuse. Women and girls, and marginalized groups, including people with disabilities and LGBTQI individuals, have the right to feel safe in all spaces. Go to the link in our bio for more info.

DAY 3 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Globally, almost 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. Go to the link in our bio for info, resources and learn how to help.

DAY 2 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. DEMAND CHANGE. Call on policymakers, tech companies and social media platforms to take image-based abuse, the devaluation of human beings, and online misogyny as seriously as they take copyright infringement. Go to the link in our bio.

REMINDER! Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award: apply by NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence. Today begins 16 Days of activism to mobilize all members of society: governments; technology companies; donors; and all of us who must raise our voices.

Apply for our Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award before NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

Congratulations to our friend and archaeologist, Bob Muckle, on the publication of his book, “ONCE UPON THIS LAND”, where he visits sites in BC to explain archaeology and its contribution to our understanding of human history.

It is Transgender Day of Remembrance. We commemorate the 26th anniversary of TDoR which began in 1999. We honour all the transgender people lost to violence and call for change, solidarity, safety, hope and joy for the lives and rights of all 2 Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people.

Apply for our Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award before NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

Double rainbow out in the field! Thanks for making us smile Sheriff!! 😊💚🌈 #OurTeam #InTheField #ArchaeologyForGood #Archaeologist #ArchaeologyLife

REMINDER! Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award: apply by NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

Apply for our Indigenous Environmental Guardianship Award before NOV 30th - for an individual committed to community-led work or activities related to the care for and management of traditional territories, combining traditional knowledge with modern stewardship practices. Info at kleanza.com!

Big gratitude to Trevor Lamb for being such a great addition to our team this summer! A 2021 UNBC grad, Trevor loves everything about archaeology. On our project, he enjoyed being outdoors, active, and doing what makes him happiest—archaeology! We’re so glad you joined us!

Bull kelp has been nearly wiped out by industrialization. Over 2 years, səlilwətaɬ Lands & Resources worked with the Kelp Rescue Initiative to plant kelp at Whey-Ah-Wichen & New Brighton Park. A DFO scuba mission found new bull kelp growing! Read more in North Shore News!

THANK YOU to Kira Sokolovskaia for joining us this summer! An SFU Archaeology student working on a GIS Certificate, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Geoarchaeology. On our project, she loved using her Fine Arts skills to help record archaeological features. We’re so grateful for your talent, Kira!

Sept 15th is the deadline to apply for the Kleanza Award for Students of Archaeology! This award provides support and encouragement to a student who demonstrates an appreciation for the current ethics, practice and concerns associated with the Archaeology profession in BC. Visit kleanza.com!