Jackfish Creek crossing.

In August of 2004, Bison Historical Services Ltd. and Sahtu Environmental Services Inc. carried out a survey of heritage sites at a series of bridge locations on the Mackenzie River winter road.  The Department of Transportation of the Government of the Northwest Territories is in the process of building forty permanent bridges along the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road between Wrigley and Fort Good Hope.  The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife recommended that fifteen of these planned bridge installations should be examined by an archaeologist to make sure that no heritage sites would be damaged by construction.

Sahtu Environmental Services Ltd. sub-contracted Don Hanna of Bison Historical Services Ltd. to carry out the required investigations.  Fieldwork was based out of Norman Wells and carried out by helicopter and on foot.  The area of each bridge crossing was extensively shovel tested.  Accompanying Don Hanna were Bob Steinhauser of Bison Historical Services Ltd. and Thomas Manuel of Norman Wells.  Bridge locations examined include those located at Blackwater River, Little Smith Creek, Big Smith Creek, Denise Creek, Rachelle Creek, Jackfish Creek, Jungle Ridge Creek, Christina Creek, Hellava Creek, Francis Creek, Elliot Creek, Gibson South, Gibson North, Tsintu River and Lynn Creek.

Gibson North Creek crossing with bridge construction already started.

No heritage sites were found at Denise Creek, Jackfish Creek, Jungle Ridge Creek, Christina Creek, Hellava Creek, Francis Creek, Elliot Creek, Gibson South, Gibson North and Lynn Creek.

Two relatively recent traditional land-use localities were identified near the Rachelle Creek crossing.  Neither will be impacted by the proposed bridge construction. A recorded traditional land-use site and an unknown traditional land-use site were identified at the Tsintu River crossing.  Neither will be impacted by the proposed bridge construction. A small prehistoric site was identified at the Little Smith crossing.  This site has already been damaged by bridge construction.  However, this site has very limited importance.  Four recorded ancient sites lie near the Big Smith Creek crossing.  However, examination of this crossing indicates that none will be damaged by the planned bridge construction. Four recorded heritage sites are known to lie near the Blackwater River crossing.  However, examination of this crossing indicates that none will be damaged by the planned bridge construction.