Supporting Tse’k’wa
May 07, 2024
Alyssa Currie, MA ’19, leads operations of Tse’k’wa, an accessible cultural-heritage site in northern BC and one of Canada’s oldest known archeological sites.
Surrounded by the boreal forest of northern British Columbia, on the territory of the Dane-zaa First Nations, a sandstone cave is embedded in bedrock. Perched on a steep cliff, the site overlooks the Peace River Valley, the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa.
Since time immemorial, the site, known as Tse’k’wa—which means “Rock House” in Dane-zaa—has been a gathering place for the Dane-zaa people to meet, share and celebrate. It’s also one of the oldest known archaeological sites in Canada. In 2012, recognizing the cultural and archaeological importance of Tse’k’wa, three Dane-zaa First Nations—the Doig River, Prophet River and West Moberly First Nations—formed the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, which has stewarded the site through a transformation into an accessible cultural heritage site.
Today, working closely with the Tse’k’wa Board of Directors , Executive Director Alyssa Currie, MA ’19, supports the society’s vision for Tse’k’wa: a site where community members, researchers and visitors can gather to learn about the land and Dane-zaa culture in a good way.
“My role, as I see it, is to support and elevate the community so that their voice can be heard. That means working very closely with the knowledge keepers, the language speakers and also the youth from these communities, because this is all being done for those future generations.”
Born and raised in northern BC, Currie completed a degree in English and History at the University of Northern British Columbia before travelling to Victoria for her graduate studies. During her time at UVic, Currie participated in the co-op program, working in cultural heritage with Pouce Coupe Museum and Library and Archives Canada. In 2021, she was hired as the first staff member at Tse’k’wa Heritage Society.
In her work, Currie oversees day-to-day operations of the site and executes the strategic vision of the board. Describing her average day, she jokes that it includes a bit of everything—from writing grants to fund the construction of an accessible interpretive trail and amphitheatre, to working with archaeologists, to coordinating educational programs, to working with Elders and community members to plant a garden of traditional medicinal species.
“Every day has something new—a new challenge, a new learning opportunity,” Currie says with a grin. “I never have the same day twice.”
Made up of representatives from each of the three partner First Nations, the Tse’k’wa board has been working since the purchase of the site in 2012, building organizational capacity. In her early days as executive director, Currie and the board worked with communities to learn about their vision for the site, developing an interpretive strategy around what stories and cultural knowledge are appropriate to share with visitors.
She recalls the opening of the interpretive trail, which allows mobility-device users to access Tse’k’wa: “Some of my favourite memories are of speaking with Elders who are visiting the cave for the first time in decades, because now they can get to it.”
Today, when visitors arrive at Tse’k’wa, they are greeted by the words of the community’s Elders. Repatriated archaeological artifacts are on display, their cultural significance explained alongside their archaeological import.
“Contrary to common belief, this is a culture that is still here, still surviving and thriving. Getting to learn directly from the Elders and the language keepers and the community members and getting to elevate their work is the best thing that I could ask for.”
—Katy DeCoste, MA ‘22
This article appears in the UVic Torch alumni magazine.
For more Torch stories, go to the UVic Torch alumni magazine page.