CMI Submission Guidelines

The event's steering committee will use the abstracts to select our speakers. Abstracts for accepted talks are sometimes posted on our web site before the event.

Title	Write this as you would like it to appear on the conference agenda. Keep it brief and make sure that your topic is clear.
Presenter’s information	Name, affiliation, email address, phone number, postal address, web site if you have one. If you are co-presenting, include this information for both presenters.
Co-authors	Names, affiliations, email addresses.
Abstract length	250-400 words.
Formatting	Use Microsoft Word and keep your formatting very simple.
Biographical notes	Please explain your background and credentials as it relates to the work you are presenting on. This is not a request for your résumé!!
Audio-visual support	We assume you will bring your presentation in PowerPoint format, Windows platform, on a memory stick or CD. If you are working with a Macintosh, please test your presentation on a PC before you come. If in doubt, convert your presentation into a PDF file. We have a digital projector, screen, and PC computer set up for each event. If you need other audio visual support, such as sound or an overhead transparency projector, please specify.

Send your information by email, as an attachment, to office@cmiae.org. Title your email something like: “Abstract for Event X”. You will receive an email thanking you for the abstract within a couple of days. Call if you don't receive this email.

Assessing impacts on Ktunaxa Nation cultural resources from ecological restoration timber thinning and prescribed burning in the Rocky Mountain Trench

Thomas Gregory Munson

C/o Westland Resource Group Inc.

# 203 – 830 Shamrock Street, Victoria, BC V8X 2V1

Email: munson@westland.com

Phone: 250-592-8500

Abstract

Timber harvest and prescribed burning in the Rocky Mountain Trench in southeastern British Columbia are part of long-term ecological restoration in the forest and grassland ecosystems of the region. Conducted in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation, this restoration work has the potential to impact Ktunaxa pre-contact archaeological sites around kettle lakes in the Trench. The focus of this research project was the integration of cultural information into ecosystem restoration decision-making processes. Detailed inventory of archaeological sites was completed using standard archaeological site inventory procedures; this inventory information served as the baseline data prior to monitoring of timber harvest activities around the cultural sites, carried out under prescribed winter conditions of frozen ground and snow cover. Surface soil disturbance surveys were completed around the sites following the timber harvest activities, to assess impacts to Ktunaxa archaeological sites. Management recommendations were advanced pertaining to reduction of impacts of timber harvest equipment and prescribed fire on cultural sites. These include: timber harvest only under prescribed winter conditions; use of low impact harvest equipment; exclusion of equipment from ecologically and culturally sensitive sites; and training of field staff in identification and protection of cultural sites. Ktunaxa Nation natural resources staff must be involved in all aspects of ecological restoration planning – including initial archaeological impact assessments, determining what restoration activities take place around cultural sites, monitoring of timber thinning and prescribed burning processes and post-harvest and post-fire impact assessments – to fully protect cultural resource values. Ecological restoration activities will be improved by the successful integration of Ktunaxa cultural information and values into restoration practices. The Ktunaxa Nation can assist in the process of improving cultural site planning and protection by educating resource development and fire protection field staff prior to the carrying out of timber harvest and prescribed burning in the Rocky Mountain Trench.

Thomas Munson background

Thomas has worked with First Nations in the Yukon Territory, British Columbia and Colombia, South America, for much of the past 20 years. His work experience on behalf of First Nations includes assessment of impacts of resource development on archaeological and cultural sites, ethno-botanical field studies, traditional use research, multi-party treaty negotiations and environmental impact assessment projects. He also worked as an Archaeological Field Technician in the Victoria area for Millennia Research Inc., conducting fieldwork and preparing Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) reports. Thomas has worked with Westland Resource Group since October of 2006, specializing in Aboriginal Interest and Use Studies, and assessment of the impacts of development projects on First Nation rights and interests around the province. Current projects include assessment of impacts of the Gateway Highway Project in the Fraser Valley, Whistler Nordic Legacy Ski Trails in the Callaghan Valley, and the Pacific Trails Pipeline project planned between Prince George and Kitimat.

Thomas received a Master of Science (Interdisciplinary) degree from the University of Victoria in 2006. His thesis research investigated the impacts of timber harvest and prescribed burning on archaeological sites in the Rocky Mountain Trench of southeastern British Columbia, in association with the Ktunaxa Nation.