Traditional Use Studies

Historically, most Aboriginal groups in Alberta were hunters that seasonally travelled to hunt, trap, fish, gather food and trade, periodically assembling with related bands for ceremonial and group activities.

Significant sites, such as burial sites, spiritual places and the location of medicinal plants, were recorded in the Aboriginal oral tradition.  Over the years, some of these sites have been damaged or destroyed by people unaware of the significance of the locations.  The resource industry has been criticized for contributing to this damage.

Many Aboriginal groups in Alberta are collecting their oral history and traditional knowledge through a Traditional Use Study.  This is a large project undertaken by a community that involves interviewing elders, conducting historic research, and mapping sites of traditional uses and activity.

The information regarding significant sites is verified in the field, if possible, and the locations are recorded with a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. The GPS locations, and other information the First Nation chooses to document about the sites, are entered into a computer database and can be used by the First Nation for analysis and mapping purposes.