The Cheslatta Carrier First Nation and Rio Tinto Alcan have signed an agreement to partner on an archaeological project to better understand the history and culture of Indigenous communities and human migrations throughout North America.

The Indigenous led project will survey and excavate a variety of sites of cultural and historical significance some that could possibly be 10,000 years old, according to a release from Rio Tinto.

Archaeologists will examine artifacts already recovered from Tatichek Lake, a site where habitation sites once existed, according to Cheslatta oral histories.

“The former Tatichek Village sites are the most significant archaeology sites remaining after the Nechako Reservoir was created in 1952,” said Chief Corrina Leween of the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation. “With this support from Rio Tinto, the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation is now able to expand their knowledge of our ancestors and of the ancient human use occupation within the Cheslatta Territory.”

Rio Tinto will contribute $2.8 million to the research initiative, which builds on the New Day agreement inked in 2020 between the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation and Rio Tinto Alcan to promote the social and economic well-being of the Cheslatta community.