Dr. Iain McKechnie

Associate professor

Anthropology

Accepting graduate students

Contact:: Office: Cornett B246a iim@uvic.ca 250-721-7351

Credentials:: PhD (UBC)

Area of expertise:: Coastal archaeology, historical ecology, Northwest coast, zooarchaeology

Related links:

Dr. McKechnie' Google Scholar page

Bio

Dr. McKechnie is an associate professor of Anthropology at the University of Victoria. His research interests include coastal archaeology, historical ecology, and zooarchaeology. He conducts research and teaches undergraduate courses and graduate seminars on the role of archaeological data in upholding Indigenous knowledge, marine conservation, and the practice of archaeology. His collaborative research has been supported by multiple First Nations, Parks Canada, the Natural Science and Social Science Research Councils of Canada (NSERC & SSHRC), Mitacs, the Hakai Institute, and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. Peer reviewed publications emerging from this research have garnered media coverage in local, international and Indigenous news outlets, as well as in educational modules in primary and secondary schools in British Columbia.

Dr. McKechnie is currently the director of the Historical Ecology & Coastal Archaeology (HECA) Lab, a group of graduate students and researchers engaged with Indigenous communities on topics related to heritage management, environmental policies, and climate change. He also directs the UVic Zooarchaeology Lab, a long-established animal bone lab that has more than 2,980 animal skeletons from 671 species which enable osteological identification of animal bones recovered from archaeological sites.

Dr. McKechnie maintains affiliate scholar positions with the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, the Hakai Institute and is helping to co-organize the next International Council of Archaeozoology (ICAZ) conference in Vancouver in 2027 and the next Oceans Past Conference in Victoria in summer 2026. Iain holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, an MA in Archaeology from Simon Fraser University, and a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Interests

coastal archaeology
zooarchaeology
historical ecology
Northwest coast
fisheries

Courses

ANTH 240 Archaeology
ANTH 340 Archaeology of British Columbia
ANTH 343 Archaeological Field Techniques
ANTH 442/520B Marine Historical Ecology
ANTH 551/651 Seminar in Ecology and Evolution

Current projects

Publications

2024 – Salomon, A. & I. McKechnie. Insights Gained from Including People in our Models of Nature and Modes of Marine Science. Annual Review of Marine Science 17. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-021523-105524
2024 – Hillis, D., K. Barclay, E. Foster, H. Kobluk, T. Vollman, A. Salomon, C. Darimont, & I. McKechnie. Estimating size-at-harvest from Indigenous archaeological clamshell assemblages in coastal British Columbia. Facets 9(1):1-15 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/facets-2023-0128
2024 – Beaty, F., P. Domínguez-Sánchez, K. Bear Nalven, J. Palacios-Abrantes, K. Oken, N. Ban, K. Nickols, F. Juanes, T. Okey, A. Spalding, H. Morzaria-Luna, L. Jenkins, V. Tulloch &, I. McKechnie. Centering relationships to place for more meaningful research and engagement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 121(25):e2306991121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306991121
2023 - Salomon, A. K., D. K. Okamoto, B. J. Wilson (Kii7iljuus), T. Happynook (hiininaasim), Wickaninnish, A. Mack (wiicuckum), A. Davidson (Skil Hiilans), Guujaaw Gidansda, H. L. Humchitt (Wigvilhba Wakas), T. Happynook (Mexsis), C. Cox (Weiwimtaeek), F. Gillette (Hyuuštulth), S. Christiansen (N’yasim), D. Dragon, H. M. Kobluk, L. Lee, M. T. Tinker, J. J. Silver, D. Armitage, I. McKechnie, A. MacNeil, D. Hillis, E.-K. Muhl, E. J. Gregr, C. J. C. Commander, and A. Augustine. Disrupting and diversifying the values, voices, and governance principles that shape biodiversity science and management. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 378:20220196
2023 - Salmen-Hartley, J., and I. McKechnie. An Examination of Indigenous Halibut Fishing Technology on the Northwest Coast of North America. Arctic Anthropology 59:87–105
2023 - Lin, A. T., L. Hammond-Kaarremaa, H.-L. Liu, C. Stantis, I. McKechnie, M. Pavel, S. sa'hLa mitSa Pavel, S. Sen̓áḵw Wyss, R. P. Xweliqwiya Bolton, D. Morsette, D. qwasen Sparrow, E. Kwulasultun White, K. Carr, S. G. Aninta, A. Perri, J. Hartt, A. Bergström, A. Carmagnini, S. Charlton, L. Dalén, T. R. Feuerborn, C. France, S. Gopalakrishnan, V. Grimes, A. Harris, G. Kavich, B. N. Sacks, M.-H. S. Sinding, P. Skoglund, D. W. G. Stanton, E. A. Ostrander, G. Larson, C. G. Armstrong, L. A. F. Frantz, M. T. R. Hawkins, and L. Kistler. The History of Coast Salish ‘Woolly Dogs’ Revealed by Ancient Genomics and Indigenous Knowledge. Science 382:1303–1308
2023 - Darimont, C. T., R. Cooke, M. L. Bourbonnais, H. M. Bryan, S. M. Carlson, J. A. Estes, M. Galetti, T. Levi, J. L. Maclean, I. McKechnie, P. C. Paquet, and B. Worm. Humanity’s diverse predatory niche. Communications Biology 6:609
2023 - Crabtree, S. A., J. G. Kahn, R. Jackson, S. A. Wood, I. McKechnie, P. Verhagen, J. K. Earnshaw, P. V. Kirch, J. A. Dunne, and A. Dugmore. 2023. Why are sustainable practices often elusive? The role of information flow in the management of networked human-environment interactions. Global Environmental Change 78:102597.
2022 - Campos, A. A., C. D. Bullen, E.J. Gregr, I. McKechnie, & K.M.A. Chan. 2022. Steller’s sea cow uncertain history illustrates importance of ecological context when interpreting demographic histories from genomes. Nature Communications 13:3674.
2022 - Gustas, R. H., I. McKechnie, Q. Mackie, and C. T. Darimont. 2022. Estimating Coastal Shell Midden Site Volumes Using Geometric Solids: An Example from Tseshaht Territory, Western Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada. Advances in Archaeological Practice 10:200–214.
2022 - Hillis, D., R. Gustas, D. Pauly, W. W. L. Cheung, A. K. Salomon, and I. McKechnie. 2022. A Paleothermometer of Ancient Indigenous Fisheries Reveals Increases in Mean Temperature of the Catch Over Five Millennia. Environmental Biology of Fishes
2022 - Reeder-Myers, L. A., T. J. Braje, C. A. Hofman, E. A. Elliot Smith, C. Garland, M. A. Grone, C. Hadden, M. Hatch, T. Hunt, A. Kelley, M. J. LeFebvre, I. McKechnie, I. J. McNiven, B. Newsom, T. Pluckhahn, G. M. Sanchez, M. Schwadron, K. Y. Smith, T. Smith, A. Spiess, G. Tayac, T. Vollman, E. M. Weitzel, and T. C. Rick. 2022. Indigenous oyster fisheries persisted for millennia and should inform future management. Nature Communications 13:2383.
2022 – Duffield, S. J. Walkus, E. White, I. McKechnie, Q. Mackie, D. McLaren. Documenting 6,000 Years of Indigenous fisheries and settlement as Seen through vibracore sampling on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. American Antiquity 87(1):168-183.
2022– Slade, E., I. McKechnie, A.K. Salomon Archaeological and contemporary evidence indicates low sea otter prevalence along the Pacific Northwest Coast during the late Holocene. Ecosystems 25:548–566.
2021 – Henson, L.H., N. Balkenhol, R. Gustas, M. Adams, J. Walkus, W.G. Housty, A. Vik Stronen, J. Moody, C. Service, D. Reece, B. VonHoldt, I. McKechnie, B.F. Koop, C.T. Darimont. Convergent geographic patterns between grizzly bear population genetic structure and Indigenous language groups in coastal British Columbia. Ecology and Society 26.(3).
2021 – Bullen, C., A. Campos, E. Gregr, I. McKechnie, K.M.A. Chan. The ghost of a giant – Six hypotheses for how an extinct megaherbivore structured kelp forests across the North Pacific Rim. Global Ecology and Biogeography
2021 – DeRoy, B.C., V. Brown, C.N. Service, M. Leclerc, C. Bone, I. McKechnie, C.T. Darimont. Combining high-resolution remotely sensed data with local and Indigenous Knowledge to model the landscape suitability of culturally modified trees: biocultural stewardship in Kitasoo/Xai’xais Territory. Facets 6(1):465–489.
2020 – Duffield, S., I. McKechnie, D. St. Claire, & D. McLaren. Vibracore Sampling in the Broken Group Islands. The Midden 5(2):34–37.
2020 – Hillis, D., I. McKechnie, E. Guiry, D. St. Claire, & C. T. Darimont. Ancient Dog Diets on the Pacific Northwest Coast: Zooarchaeological and Stable Isotope Modelling Evidence from Tseshaht Territory and Beyond. Scientific Reports 10:15630.
2020 – McKechnie, I., M. L. Moss, and S. J. Crockford. 2020. Domestic Dogs and Wild Canids of the Northwest Coast of North America: Animal Husbandry in a Region without Agriculture? Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 60:101209.
2018 – Martindale, A., G.T. Cook, Iain McKechnie, K. Edinborough, I. Hutchinson, M. Eldridge, K. Supernant, and K.M. Ames. Estimating Marine Reservoir Effects (MRE) in Archaeological Chronologies: Comparing ΔR Calculations in Prince Rupert Harbour, British Columbia, Canada. American Antiquity 83(4):659–680.
2018 – Salomon, A. K., K. Lertzman, K. Brown, B. J. Wilson (Kii7iljuus), D. Secord &, Iain McKechnie. Democratizing Conservation Science and Practice. Ecology and Society 23(1)
2018 - Rodrigues, AT; Iain McKechnie, & DY Yang Ancient DNA analysis of Indigenous rockfish use on the Pacific Coast: Implications for marine conservation areas and fisheries management. PLoS ONE 13 (2), e0192716
2017 – (Armstrong, C. G., A.C. Shoemaker, I. McKechnie, et al.) Anthropological contributions to historical ecology: 50 questions, infinite prospects. PloS One 12(2): e0171883.
2016 – (Iain McKechnie and Madonna L. Moss) Meta-analysis in Zooarchaeology Expands Perspectives on Indigenous Fisheries of the Northwest Coast of North America. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.04.006.
2015 –  (with Sarah W. Kansa & Steve Wolverton) Snapshots of Digital Scholarship in Zooarchaeology: Introduction to the Special Issue Ethnobiology Letters. 6(2):218-223. DOI: 10.14237/ebl.6.2.2015.556
2015 – Indigenous Oral History and Settlement Archaeology in the Broken Group Islands, Western Vancouver Island. BC Studies (187):191–225.
2015 – (with Alan D. McMillan) Investigating Indigenous Adaptations to British Columbia’s Exposed Outer Coast: Introduction to These Outer Shores. BC Studies (187):3–20.
2015 – (Gerald Singh, Iain McKechnie, Todd Braje & Breana Campbell) “All Models are Wrong But Some Are Useful”: A Response to Campbell’s Comment on Estimating Mytilus californianus Shell Size. Journal of Archaeological Science 63(11):160–163.
2015 – (Iain McKechnie, Gerald Singh, Todd Braje & Breana Campbell) Measuring Mytilus californianus: an Addendum to Campbell and Braje (2015) and Singh and McKechnie (2015) including commentary and an integration of data. Journal of Archaeological Science 58(6):184–186.
2015 – (Gerald Singh & Iain McKechnie) Making the Most of Fragments: A Method for Estimating Shell Length From Fragmentary Mussels (Mytilus californianus and M. trossulus) on the Pacific Coast of North America. Journal of Archaeological Science 58(6):175–183.
2014 – (Iain McKechnie, Dana Lepofsky, Madonna L. Moss, Virginia L. Butler, Trevor J. Orchard, Gary Coupland, Fredrick Foster, Megan Caldwell & Ken Lertzman) Archaeological data provide alternative hypotheses on Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) distribution, abundance, and variability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 111(9):E807–E816.
2013 – (with Nicole Smith) Coastal Field Archaeology in Huu-ay-aht First Nation Territory, Southwestern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. SAA Current Research Online 153(1).
2012 – (Paul Szpak, Trevor Orchard, Iain McKechnie & Darren Gröcke) Historical Ecology of Late Holocene Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) from Northern British Columbia: Isotopic and Zooarchaeological Perspectives. Journal of Archaeological Science 39(5):1553–1571.
2012 – (Camilla Speller, Lorenz Hauser, Dana Lepofsky, Daniel Peterson, Jason Moore, Antonia Rodriguez, Madonna Moss, Iain McKechnie & Dongya Y. Yang) High Potential for Using DNA from Ancient Herring Bones to Inform Modern Fisheries Management and Conservation. PLoS ONE 7(11):e51122.
2012 – Zooarchaeological Analysis of the Indigenous Fishery at the Huu7ii Big House and Back Terrace, Huu-ay-aht Territory, Southwestern Vancouver Island. In Huu7ii: Household Archaeology at a Nuu-chah-nulth Village Site in Barkley Sound, edited by Alan D. McMillan and Denis E. St. Claire, pp. 154–186. Archaeology Press, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC.
2011 – (with Rebecca Wigen) Toward a Historical Ecology of Pinniped and Sea Otter Hunting Traditions on the Coast of Southern British Columbia. In Human Impacts on Seals, Sea Lions, and Sea Otters: Integrating Archaeology and Ecology in the Northeast Pacific, edited by Todd J. Braje and Torben C. Rick, pp. 129–166. University of California Press, Berkeley.
2011 – (Quentin Mackie, Daryl W. Fedje, Duncan McLaren, Nicole Smith & Iain McKechnie) Early Environments and Archaeology of Coastal British Columbia. In Trekking the Shore: Changing Coastlines and the Antiquity of Coastal Settlement, edited by N. F. Bicho, J. A. Haws and L. G. Davis, pp. 51–103. Springer, New York.
2011 – (with Sarah W. Kansa) Transformations in Digital Communication and Collaboration: Recent Perspectives From Zooarchaeology. SAA Archaeological Record 11(1):10–29.

2015 – co-edited with Alan D. McMillan These Outer Shores: Archaeological Insights into Indigenous Lifeways Along the Exposed Coasts of British Columbia. BC Studies: The British Columbian Quarterly (vol. 187).
2015 – co-edited with Sarah W. Kansa and Steve Wolverton Digital Zooarchaeology. Ethnobiology Letters 6(2)222–284.