Susannah Deyelle Clinker

My dissertation examines how archaeology can be utilized as a ‘form of service’ to support community-identified interests. In particular, my research utilizes archaeological knowledge and research skills to support intergenerational knowledge transmission and cultural revitalization programming in Iqaluktuuttiaq, Nunavut. In partnership with the Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society (PI/KHS), this project is to develop archaeology-based educational kits for children and youth to be used in the local schools. These kits—co-created with Elders, PI/KHS staff, and local educators—pair 3D-printed replicas of Inuit and pre-Inuit artifacts with Elder-recorded Oral Histories and pedagogical materials. Through this research, I will explore how archaeological resources and skills can be mobilized by Indigenous organizations to engage youth with their ancestral past and assert cultural continuity. I ask: How can tactile engagement with heritage objects, together with Elders’ narratives, foster collective memory and identity among Inuinnait youth? In what ways does archaeology serve as a medium for Indigenous-led educational initiatives? By foregrounding community priorities, particularly those centred on intergenerational cultural transmission, this project contributes to broader discussions on the ethical responsibilities of archaeologists working in Indigenous contexts, and the potential of archaeology as a resource for community-led cultural education, sovereignty, and intergenerational dialogue.