Kwaday Dän Ts'inchì Chronology
1999 - Initial
Discovery
August 14, 1999 - A party of sheep hunters
finds artifacts and human remains at the foot of a
glacier in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in the northwest
region of British Columbia, near the Yukon border.
August 16, 1999 - The hunters - Bill Hanlon,
Warren Ward and Mike Roche - report their find to staff
at the Beringia Centre in Whitehorse and turned in
several artifacts they had removed from the site.
Beringia Centre staff notify the Yukon government's
heritage branch. Heritage branch staff notify the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. The Champagne and
Aishihik First Nations decide to visit the site to
assess the reported remains.
August 17, 1999 - The Yukon government's
heritage branch archaeology staff are briefed by the
hunters. Following established protocol, the RCMP is
contacted because human remains are involved.
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations representatives
invite Yukon government heritage branch archaeologists
and BC Parks officials to help with the preliminary
assessment of the site. A limited inspection of the site
takes place due to inclement weather.
Authorities with the British Columbia Ministry of Small Business,
Tourism and Culture (archaeology branch) are notified
immediately by a Yukon government archaeologist
following the preliminary site assessment.
1999 - Recovery Begins
August 17-20, 1999 - Following confirmation of
the site, archaeology branch officials assemble a team
of archaeologists, a forensic anthropologist, and a
glaciologist to handle the recovery process. Champagne
and Aishihik First Nations seek guidance from their
elders on the find.
August 20, 1999 - Anthropologist Al Mackie of
the archaeology branch and forensic anthropologist Dr. Owen Beattie arrive in Whitehorse. Champagne and Aishihik First Nations concur that removal of the
remains is necessary to prevent further deterioration as
the site is being exposed by the melting glacier.
August 22-23, 1999 - The human remains and
artifacts are recovered from the glacier site by the
team of specialists. The recovery is undertaken by the
team including representatives of the Champagne and
Aishihik First Nations and BC Parks. Before removal,
words of respect are spoken by representatives of the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
The collected remains and artifacts are transferred
to Whitehorse, where they can be appropriately stored
and monitored by specialists.
Yukon government heritage branch archaeologists and
conservator offer support throughout.
1999 - Research
Project is Agreed Upon
August 23, 1999 - The Champagne and Aishihik
First Nations convene an emergency meeting of elders and
members, who agree efforts should be made to learn
something about this person. They named the find Kwaday
Dän Ts'inchì, meaning 'long ago person found.'
August 24, 1999 - The Champagne and Aishihik
First Nations hold a news conference in Haines Junction,
Yukon, officially announcing the find and the
co-operative approach to be undertaken between the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and the
British Columbia
government.
August 25 - September 1, 1999 - The
British Columbia
Ministry of Small Business Tourism and Culture, the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and other officials
(BC Parks, Yukon heritage branch, scientists) work to
reach agreement on the terms under which studies will
proceed. The goal is to ensure cultural concerns are
respected while recognizing the important scientific
considerations inherent in a find of this nature.
August 31, 1999 - Agreement is reached between
the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Small
Business, Tourism and Culture's archaeology branch about
the management of Kwaday Dän Ts'inchì.
September 2, 1999 - The human remains and some
artifacts are transported from Whitehorse, Yukon, to the
Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, where they
are stored under carefully controlled and monitored
conditions. Following Champagne and Aishihik cultural
tradition, a member of the First Nation escorts the body
during transfer.
September 3-12, 1999 - Planning takes place
involving the British Columbia Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and
Culture, and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
September 13, 1999 - Letters from Small
Business, Tourism and Culture Minister Ian Waddell and
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Chief Bob Charlie
are sent to Bill Hanlon, Warren Ward and Mike Roche,
acknowledging the contribution of the three hunters to
the Kwaday Dän Ts'inchì project.
News conference and technical briefing is held at the
Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria to announce the formation of
a joint management committee to oversee the research and
to confirm that the human remains will be housed at the
museum during the agreed-upon period of scientific
study.
2000 - Research
Teams are Established
October-November, 1999 - Terms of reference
for research proposals are established. First radio
carbon dates are received on samples of the hat and
robe.
Late November, 1999 - Terms of reference for
research are released to scientific community seeking
proposals.
January 2000 - Review of research proposals is
completed and further discussion with successful
proponents takes place.
January 14, 2000 - To assist with planning,
the first examination of frozen human remains takes
place by research proponent from out of country.
February-March, 2000 - Research agreements on
human remains are drafted.
March 30, 2000 - First research agreement for
study of human remains is made.
April 3, 2000 - Received carbon 14 dates on
second batch of artifacts.
2000 - Studies Begin
April 4, 2000 - First examination of human
remains for detailed study takes place. Following
receipt of more carbon 14 dates on wood artifacts, the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations develop study plan
for artifacts remaining in Whitehorse.
June 30, 2000 - Second examination of human
remains for detailed study takes place.
July, 2000 - Agreement with University of
Victoria to conduct ethics reviews for out-of-country
researchers is finalized.
August 10, 2000 - Representatives from the
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations revisit the site
and find the area covered in snow, which makes field
work in the summer of 2000 impossible.
Mid-September, 2000 - Final ethics reviews at
University of Victoria for out-of-country studies are
completed. Research agreements with out-of-country
researchers are finalized.
September 21, 2000 - Third examination of
human remains for detailed study takes place.
November 9, 2000 - Fourth and final
examination of human remains for detailed study takes
place.
September 1999 - November 2000 - Ongoing
communication with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
membership as well as contact with neighbouring First
Nations. | 
