Challenges in Documenting Archaeological and Ethnological Collections in KE EMu Stacey Girling-Christie, Archaeology & History Margot Reid, Artifact Documentation North American Users Group Meeting, October 2006

Background 1842 William Edmond Logan – Founder of the Geological Survey of Canada 1910 Government of Canada creates an Anthropology division within the GSC 1910 Edward Sapir – Ethnologist, became Division Head and first registrar 1911 Harlan Smith - first archaeologist 1964 regional archaeologists hired

Archaeology Collections Mandate – Canadian archaeology Sites located on crown land Majority of the collections come from region of the Northwest Territories / Nunavut Collections are predominately prehistoric human remains collection Foreign collections

Ethnology Collections 61,000 objects of Aboriginal origin; all regions of Canada and small portion from outside Canada acquired between 1879 and the present 20% are works of contemporary art large proportion purchased by ethnologists carrying out research in Aboriginal communities in first half of 20 th century

Archaeology - Modules CataloguePartiesRights Taxonomy (link does not exist) Multimedia Thesaurus (in progress) Locations

Relationship of KE Modules - Archaeology CATALOGUE COLLECTION EVENT SITES ACCESSION LOTS 621,423 records 14,477 records33, 597 records26,722 records

Ethnology – Modules Catalogue Accession Lots RightsMultimediaEvents Thesaurus (stand- alone) NarrativesLocationsLoansParties

CATALOGUE - Classification Chenhall Classification System

CATALOGUE - Numbers

CATALOGUE – Object ID cast

CATALOGUE - People

CATALOGUE – Dates/Acq

CATALOGUE - Affiliations

THESAURUS - Browse mode, Terms

THESAURUS - Browse mode, Notes

CATALOGUE - Measurements

CATALOGUE – Description 1

CATALOGUE – Description 3

CATALOGUE - Material

CATALOGUE - Associations

CATALOGUE – Location 1

CATALOGUE - Valuation

CATALOGUE – Dates/Acq

ACCESSION – Lot Details

ACCESSION – Acquisition 1 Veronica Millydonor

ACCESSION – Acquisition 2

Numbers Tab Link to Collection Event Record

COLLECTION EVENT – Collections 1

COLLECTIONS EVENT – Collections 2

SITES - Site

SITES - Locality Problem: Site with multiple lots entering Lot and Concession information

SITES - Mapping

SITES – Cultural

Partnerships 1992 Task Force on Museums and First Peoples published a report titled "Turning the Page: Forging New Partnerships Between Museums and First Peoples." CMCC guided by the principles and recommendations outlined in the report. Exhibitions, research, management and care of the collection, and repatriation are done in consultation and cooperation with Aboriginal people and communities.

Defining Sensitive Grave goods Human remains Sacred objects Traditional and sensitive care SITES information Provenience data Object lists for land claim negotiations Sensitive images and documents Repatriated material Values (monetary) Casts accessioned

CATALOGUE - Provenience

CATALOGUE - Deaccession

CATALOGUE – Admin, Publish on Internet

CATALOGUE – Description 3

Rights Module

Archaeology 621,423 Catalogue records 2,817 records flagged as sensitive.45 % of the records Ethnology 61,000 Catalogue records 3,600 records flagged as sensitive 6% of the records

CATALOGUE - Multimedia

MULTIMEDIA

MULTIMEDIA – Admin, Publish on Internet

Recording and Managing Information Creation of new tabs and fields in Catalogue notes regarding repatriation or land claim inclusion notes on associated archival documentation traditional and sensitive care recommendations

Recording and Managing Information Creation of Events records Recording visits and visitors

Recording and Managing Information Creation of Narratives records Information from visitors

Other Functionality in KE Shortcuts view and Page view Tab switching Icon alerts (contact curator)

Shortcuts Setting

Shortcuts View

REGISTRY

Trigger for Tab-switching

Tab-switching

Pre-set Page View

REGISTRY - Departmental Access

Icon Alert

CHALLENGES Corporate database with numerous types of collections Classifying objects by function, type and material Keeping terminology current Managing access and permissions for sensitive material