This region has been home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial, and many of the remains of that history lie buried beneath our feet.
These historical items can take the form of artifacts, which some First Nations prefer to call “belongings,” and they are protected by provincial law. To preserve this heritage and adhere to this law, Metro Vancouver assesses all of its projects for the likelihood of encountering archaeological materials. Sometimes this requires thorough archaeological investigations before and/or during construction.
During construction, Metro Vancouver will often have trained archaeological monitors from a number of local First Nations in the region working alongside registered archaeologists and construction crews in order to watch for and document archaeological materials.
Next time you see a Metro Vancouver construction project, consider that there is so much more happening than just construction — history is potentially being uncovered and protected.
