The archaeological record of the First Peoples of North America is scattered, fragmented, and could be lost forever.
Guided by Indigenous archaeologist, Dr. Rudy Reimer (Squamish), and two adventure loving co-hosts Jenifer Brousseau (Ojibway/French) and Jacob Pratt (Dakota/ Saulteaux), we are taken on a Vision Quest through the mountains, waterways, plains, and Arctic landscapes of Canada’s ancient archaeological record to discover first-hand the untold story of the original peoples of North America. For the first time in archaeological history twelve thousand years of human inhabitation of this land is vividly brought to life through thirteen episodes of Wild Archaeology.
Wild Archaeology is the first documentary television series to explore the archaeological record of Canada’s Indigenous peoples from the point of view of Indigenous peoples.
Based on seven years of extensive research in consultation with Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal archaeologists, the series took two years to film, often in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
Wild Archaeology positions itself as a part of a paradigm shift that has occurred throughout the world that recognizes the vital importance of consulting and partnering with archaeologists, anthropologists and Indigenous studies researchers of Aboriginal origin.
We have consciously reflected this approach in the series through our commitment to engage in Aboriginal community outreach in each of the locales/settings and through the related topics that we focused on.
Wild Archaeology is also the first TV series in the world to be versioned to the Dakota language!
Aboriginal languages are disappearing at an alarming rate across North America. We hope that this website and the versioned TV series will provide further immersion and opportunities for the Dakota language to be seen and heard around the world.
As well, each episode in the series explores a distinct culture and features an animated Oral Story in the language of the community we explored: Squamish (Squamish, B.C.), Dene (White River, YK.) Inuvialuit (Mackenzie Delta, N.W.T.), Ojibwe (Manitoulin, ON), Heiltsuk (Central Coast, B.C.) Cree (Blackfoot, AB) and Innu Aimun (Labrador, NFLD).
The Hosts
Meet our show Hosts and learn a bit more about each of them
Dr. Rudy Reimer (Yumks)
Squamish Oyate
Jenifer Brousseau
H’ah’atonwa Oyate
Jacob Pratt
Dakota/H’ah’atonwa Oyate