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Topic

Searching the ḥaḥuułi: A Site Inventory of čaačaac̓ iiʕas, on Behalf of huuʕiiʔatḥ

Department of Anthropology

Date & location

• Monday, April 13, 2026

• 10:00 A.M.

• Clearihue Building, Room B017

• & Virtual Defence 

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Tommy Happynook, Department of Anthropology, ̽��ϵ�� (Co-Supervisor)

• Dr. Duncan McLaren, Department of Anthropology, UVic (Co-Supervisor) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Nicole Kilburn, Department of Anthropology, Camosun College 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Carmen Rodriguez de France, Department of Indigenous Education, UVic

   

Abstract

c ̌aačaac ̓ iiʕas (Carnation Creek) is located on the eastern shore of Barkley Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, within huuʕiiʔatḥ (Huu-ay-aht) ḥaḥuułi (house/territory). c ̌aačaac ̓ iiʕas is a watershed, and the site of an ongoing ecological experiment (Carnation Creek Watershed Experiment). Indigenous knowledge and ethnographic accounts reference human occupation in čaačaac ̓ iiʕas prior to European contact. I was invited to conduct an archaeological survey in čaačaac ̓ iiʕas by DR. Tommy Happynook and the huuʕiiʔatḥ ḥaw̓ iiḥ council (Hereditary Leaders council). This project builds on Dr. Happynook’s anthropological studies of the ḥaḥuułi and provides archaeological insight into past human land us and occupation at čaačaac ̓ iiʕas. Indigenous and archaeological research methodologies were employed to identify, record, and analyze one cultural shell deposit, one fish weir, two CMTs, two petroforms, one naturally occurring shell bearing matrix, a potential historic longhouse deposit, and several gardens. Archaeological evidence stands to add to current understandings of human activity in the area while also providing a historical record for čaačaac ̓ iiʕasʔatḥ and huuʕiiʔatḥ.