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Mackay Lake to Kennady Lake (Callum Thomson, Permit #99-887)
Callum Thomson, archaeologist with Jacques Whitford Environment Limited, Calgary, Alberta conducted a heritage resources inventory and preliminary impact assessment for Monopros Limited, a Canadian diamond exploration firm with a regional office in Yellowknife. Callum Thomson and seven Yellowknives Dene from Dettah and N'Dilo canoed the 60 km from MacKay Lake to Munn Lake following the ice route used by the company in the winter of 1999 to transport materials to and from the Monopros exploration area at Gahcho Kué. Thirty-two new archaeological sites were recorded. The final phase of the work was a continuation of the canoe survey, from Margaret Lake to Gahcho Kué, a distance of 60 km. Callum, two members of the North Slave Metis Alliance and two residents of Lutsel k'e found a further 18 sites. Most of the total of 50 new sites contained evidence of use before the presence of Europeans, such as quartz and quartzite tools and remains of tool-making. One of the most interesting and potentially informative sites included a toboggan or komatik, with antler sled runners, a rectangular tent ring, and the remains of two sets of tent poles. This and most of the other sites appeared to have been located for observation or interception of caribou, commonly on elevated knolls and terraces overlooking a lake or river where caribou would cross in spring or fall, and could be hunted in the water. Others also seemed to have access to good fishing places. Many of the sites were found in clusters, with several located within a few hundred metres of each other, often around a lake narrows or in association with an esker. Some were situated where shelter from the wind, behind an esker may have been another reason why people chose to live there. One site was situated where exploration drilling had taken place, and several sites were located on the winter access route or at construction camp sites. While disturbance at these sites seems to have been minimal, it does indicate a strong need to conduct surveys of this type before the construction and use of winter ice routes.
