TransCanada helps make vital Indigenous discovery

Discovery of the Clovis Point highlights the care and approach we take when building pipelines across North America.

Ancient artifact from Clovis culture found in British Columbia

It isn't every day that you unearth a 13,000-year-old artifact. That's exactly what happened, however, thanks to the cooperative efforts of a resident of Saulteau First Nations and TransCanada.

During an archaeological survey, as part of planning our North Montney Pipeline project, the Saulteau resident uncovered the base of a Clovis Point, used to hunt mammoths and other big game near Lily Lake, BC - an incredible find. (The Clovis people are considered to be North America's earliest known culture.)

"Everyone was shocked and there was lots of excitement," says John Wozniak, an archaeologist working on the project.

"Clovis artifacts are very rare, but easily distinguishable, so we knew immediately the significance of what we had."

BC first nations collaborate to protect the site

The excitement didn't end there. After additional shovelling and excavations, the archaeological team discovered another 236 prehistoric stone artifacts. After making the amazing discovery, a number of First Nations are working with provincial archaeologists to study and protect the site.

TransCanada's role in protecting indigenous artifacts

According to Wozniak, the find might never have been unearthed without TransCanada's pre-scouting work on the North Montney Pipeline project. Beyond that fact, the dig also gave the company an opportunity to show their commitment to the First Nations community, and respect for their ancestral lands.

Nancy Porter, our Senior Environmental Planner explains, "The greatest benefit of this dig was the opportunity to work closely with local First Nations and to come to a mutual agreement on how to protect important cultural resources."

Ongoing research and support

Discovery of the Clovis Point highlights the care and approach we take when building pipelines across North America.

This involves assembling teams of scientists, field technicians and archaeologists to study everything from fisheries and aquatics, to wildlife, soil, wetlands, and...sometimes 13,000-year-old cultures. Incredible.

Learn more about our relationship with Indigenous communities.