Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

10/13/2026

Did you know that John Ware, one of Alberta’s most celebrated ranchers, played a significant role in shaping the Canadian West?

Now, the story has caught the attention of Levi Strauss & Co. itself. Their blog, UnZipped (great name, right?), has published an article featuring the buttons we discovered at the Ware site this semester. It’s a powerful reminder of the diverse histories that have contributed to our communities today.

Read more:

A recent archeological discovery connects Levi’s® to John Ware, widely regarded as Canada’s first Black cowboy.

10/13/2026

UFOs, meditation, and religion—what connects them?

On October 9, Professor Shayne Dahl packed the Infinity Dome at TELUS Spark for his talk, “The Age of Disclosure? UFOs and Religion.” Dr. Dahl explored how newly released U.S. government documents about UFOs, also called unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), are sparking interest in unexplained encounters. He introduced CE-5, a practice in which people use meditation, visualization, and technology to try to communicate with non-human intelligence. These gatherings combine curiosity about science with spiritual beliefs and hopes for advanced technology.

What can these experiences tell us about belief, culture, and how people make sense of the unknown? As discussing UFOs becomes more accepted, anthropologists like Dr. Dahl and other scholars can help us understand why these experiences matter to people and communities.

09/29/2026

Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer was recently awarded the Alberta Heritage Award for Heritage Awareness. These provincial honours recognize people and organizations for protecting, preserving and promoting Alberta’s heritage, with the Heritage Awareness category celebrating research, publications and public engagement that deepen understanding of the province’s past.

Lindsay’s work combines collaborative archaeological research, Indigenous knowledge and land-based teaching to bring greater recognition to histories that have often been overlooked or silenced. Her collaboratively developed field schools, co-taught with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, have trained Siksika youth in archaeological methods and supported pathways into heritage employment and further education. Across these partnerships, she centres community priorities, shares responsibility for research and its outputs, and creates space for Indigenous people to tell their own stories. After learning about Dr. Amundsen-Meyer's work, the Honourable Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta's Minister of Tourism and Sport, concluded that through public excavations, lectures, media engagement and student mentorship, Dr. Amundsen-Meyer makes Alberta’s heritage accessible to wider audiences while fostering respect for the diverse communities whose histories shape the province.

09/29/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer! 🎉

We are delighted to congratulate Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, on receiving an Alberta Heritage Award for Heritage Awareness.

This well-deserved recognition celebrates her leadership on the Braiding Blackfoot Knowledge: Alberta Heritage Project, an innovative initiative that brings archaeology and Blackfoot knowledge together through meaningful collaboration with Blackfoot Knowledge Holders and affected descendant communities.

Dr. Amundsen-Meyer's work highlights the importance of community-engaged research, respectful knowledge sharing, and advancing our understanding of Alberta's rich cultural heritage.

👏 Congratulations, Lindsay!
https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-archaeologist-recognized-alberta-heritage-award?fbclid=IwY2xjawUo2Z9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMXlCbkhjM3dNYTJEUmFxUHRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEecE5AFu48qF4oFYTkybdbVpMO1lIFPo-6c6IWW2wEKn8wc0L6KB_-niTKGR0_aem_iWmKyRpGePQzOFZzR9m_mg

Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer is working to advance archaeology beyond its colonial legacy

09/29/2026

👏 Congratulations to Dr. Amanda Melin on being named a UCalgary Research Excellence Chair! This recognition celebrates her exceptional contributions and promise in research and creative work.

Way to go, Amanda! 🎉

🔗

UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs program builds capacity and provides leadership for strategic and transdisciplinary research initiatives

09/28/2026

Please note that the venue for this week's ANARKY TALKS has changed. Join us on Thursday, October 1, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. in ENA 103 featuring Mavis Chan presenting:
3D Printed Rock Art at Writing-on-Stone and the Okotoks Erratic.

Discover how 3D-printed reconstructions of ancient rock art are helping visitors experience these important cultural heritage sites through touch while preserving the original artwork. Learn how innovative technology, combined with Indigenous guidance and collaboration, is creating new ways for the public to engage with and connect emotionally to Alberta's rich rock art traditions.

09/24/2026

Join us for an engaging conversation with Dr. Wisdom Tettey, President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, as he shares insights on leadership, higher education, global engagement, and the future of African Studies.

📅 Date: October 15, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
📍 Location: Craigie Hall Room Block C119, University of Calgary
🎟️ Free Admission

This is a great opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and community members to hear from one of Canada's distinguished academic leaders and participate in meaningful discussions on Africa's global impact and higher education.

Visit this page to learn more and register:

Join this keynote with speaker Dr. Wisdom Tettey, Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University and a leading scholar of media, governance, and global cit...

09/24/2026

Annual event creates community connections for UCalgary's Black students

09/22/2026

The Chacmool Student Club is hosting a book sale and invites you to stop by and browse a variety of books available for purchase at affordable prices.

Date: September 22 and 29, 2026
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Main Floor, Earth Sciences Building (near elevator)

We encourage you to stop by and browse the selection. Thank you for your support, and happy reading!

09/21/2026

In this newly published article, Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer and colleagues Kent Ayoungman (Siksika Nation) and Jerry Potts (Piikani Nation) seek to expand the concept of rematriation to include the return of traditional relationships with landscape and the stories of ancestral places. By situating Blackfoot archaeological sites within their broader cultural context, we demonstrate how archaeological research can support cultural continuity, strengthen relationships to place, and contribute to reconciliation.