I am a member of the Regina Archaeological Society. For over 30 years I was a civil servant in the Government of Saskatchewan at the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, Ministry of Finance, the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation. My career gave me the opportunity to develop skills in strategic planning, risk management, financial analysis and governance. I also served on numerous profit and not for profit boards, most notably chair of the board of the Saskatchewan Science Centre (2010-11). While I am now retired from the Government of Saskatchewan, I continue to serve as the president of the Saskatchewan Economics Association. I am confident the skills I have developed in my career and my interest in archaeology will be an asset to the SAS Board.
My name is Erica Maier and I am a current Member-at-Large. I live on Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatoon, SK and work with Meewasin Valley Authority as a Resource Management Technician. I completed a BSc Honours in Archaeology in 2016 at the University of Saskatchewan, and was fortunate to attend field school both at Wanuskewin Heritage Park and at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre in Huu-ay-aht Territory. I am a Certified Tourism Professional with eMerit as a Heritage Interpreter, and currently a part-time student through the University of Saskatchewan’s Art and Artisanship Program. My work experience includes the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, a Junior Archaeologist at Stantec, in various non-profits with a focus on educational programming, and now working in environmental conservation with a special interest in the relationship between natural and cultural resource management. From my work and volunteer experience, I bring a skill set of environmental management, public engagement, volunteer coordinating, and designing and delivering educational, tourism and recreation programs.
I have a deep appreciation for history and for the province of Saskatchewan, which has been my home for over 20 years. I am originally from Australia, and first moved to Saskatchewan in 2002 to join my wife who is from the northern part of the province. We have had a home in Buffalo Narrows for most of the past 20 years. I completed a B.A with double History/Politic majors, a B.Ed., and graduate study in Ancient Biblical History. My studies have included courses in Israel with field assignments and working on the microfiche edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1993). I spent a number of years in the mountains of Colorado with a non-profit outdoor education organization and retreat centre, and have been able to share this love and appreciation for history and being out in nature and exploring, with the children, youth and adults that I have had the privilege of guiding in my various roles in the field of education. Prior to working in the education field, I worked in retail management in HR in Australia, and with the Australian High Commission in London.
I have been engaged in archaeology since an early age, beginning at 10, when I first participated in an archaeological field school in Siberia. Since then, archaeology has remained central to my academic, professional, and personal life. I am currently an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, where my research focuses on zooarchaeology and collaborative archaeology. My work is grounded in long-term zooarchaeological research conducted mostly in Siberia, as well as in parts of Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, southern Alberta, northern Utah, and Mongolia. I am presently developing a strong research interest in Saskatchewan zooarchaeology and am eager to deepen this engagement through further collaborations within the province. I have more than twenty years of experience teaching archaeology at four different universities across Canada and have supervised multiple student research projects. My scholarly record includes over one hundred publications and numerous academic presentations, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing archaeological knowledge and practice. These experiences equip me to contribute an academic and research-based perspective to the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, particularly in supporting collaborative approaches to archaeology.
Public engagement has been a consistent priority in my work. I have co-designed archaeology activity books for children with Indigenous communities in Arctic Siberia, taught introductory archaeology to children in Eastern Siberia, led public excavation tours on the shores of Lake Baikal, and regularly involve students in zooarchaeological volunteer and research assistantships to foster experiential learning. I am committed to making archaeology accessible and meaningful to broader audiences and would be pleased to host public workshops on zooarchaeology in partnership with the SAS. My involvement with the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society began in 2022 and includes co-hosting two archaeological illustration workshops and teaching three University of Saskatchewan courses in partnership with the Society: Plains Archaeology, Advanced Zooarchaeology, and Collaborative Practice in Archaeology. These experiences have strengthened my appreciation for the Society’s role in connecting academic archaeologists, professionals, avocational archaeologists, and the public.
As a board member, I hope to contribute by bringing academic perspectives, supporting student engagement in Saskatchewan archaeology, and strengthening links between research, education, and public outreach. I am deeply committed to the Indigenization of archaeology and to fostering respectful relationships that connect past and present in meaningful ways. I view archaeology as a collaborative practice, and I would be honoured to support the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society in advancing these values.
Jody graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Archaeology and Biology and then in 2010 with a Masters in Archaeology. During her time at the University of Saskatchewan she was a member at large with the Saskatoon Archaeological Society. After graduation Jody moved to Alberta to work as a CRM consultant. Jody worked in northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on various archaeological projects, through her time there. While in Alberta she was actively involved in community project with the Dene Tha First Nations in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. In addition, the consultant company that she worked every year conducted a week-long project with Grade 3 to 9 children from the local schools involving them in archaeological excavation at a nearby site. At the end of 2021 Jody and her husband moved back to Saskatchewan to be closer to family and friends.
She feels privileged to once again be a member-at-large for the SAS, and hopes that her experiences in another province will be beneficial to the community.
I began my involvement with the SAS in 2020, serving as treasurer for the Anthropology and Archaeology Student Association (now the Anthropology Students Association) from
2020 to 2021. In 2021, I interned with the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society at Fort Carlton, gaining hands-on experience in heritage preservation. In 2023, I took on the role of Bison Post editor for the Saskatoon Archaeological Society, and I currently serve as the Chapter Representative for the organization.
Beyond my work with SAS, I am actively involved in several other heritage-related roles. I serve as a member-at-large for the Department of Archaeology graduates at Memorial University of Newfoundland, I am a member of the Canadian Archaeological Association Student Committee, and I represent the Saskatoon Archaeological Society on the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee. I am an alumna of the University of Saskatchewan, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with double honours in anthropology and archaeology in 2021. I am currently in my third year of a Master’s degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. My research focuses on tracing the global spread of the human flea (Pulex irritans) using a structured, interdisciplinary approach that integrates archaeological, historical, entomological, and genetic data.
The Saskatchewan Archaeological Society’s mission to promote archaeology, protect heritage, and engage the public aligns closely with my personal and professional interests. I am committed to supporting the Society’s efforts in education, outreach, and advocacy, and I look forward to contributing my skills and enthusiasm to its work.
By serving on the Board, I hope to strengthen the Society’s impact, support its ongoing initiatives, and encourage greater participation in Saskatchewan’s archaeological community.
I became a member of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society after moving to Saskatchewan in 2005. I began working as an archaeologist at the Heritage Branch, Government of Saskatchewan and transferred over to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) in a term position. After two years, I became the Curator of Indigenous Studies until retirement in early 2021. During my time at the RSM, I was responsible for the care of the archaeological collection for the province. I was a board member of the SAS for nine years, and was also on the board of the Museum Association of Saskatchewan for six years. This has given me valuable experience on board function and governance that will help me contribute to the mission and vision of the SAS. I am Indigenous, a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation (Alberta), which has driven my career and interests in archaeology. There were very few Indigenous archaeologists in Canada when I started my academic career. There are quite a few more today and we all bring our perspectives to contribute to the future of archaeology in Canada.
I am a retired forester who worked for the Ministry of Environment Forest Service for 38 years primarily in silviculture (growing and renewing forests) and insect and disease management. When I established a small forest nursery near Duck Lake, I contacted the Heritage Conservation Branch prior to development to make sure there were no archaeological resources that might be disturbed (there were none).
I am a member of two Chapters: APSAS and Prince Albert Historical Society (PAHS). I volunteer with PAHS as a board member as well as being a member of two committees. I was a member of Toastmasters for 40 years, learning public speaking skills and Robert’s Rules of Order. I was a credit union board member for 27 years and in that capacity was the chair of the CEO search committee, and I successfully completed the Credit Union Director Achievement Program. From the credit union time I have experience with policy governance for board governance.
Heritage interests: Contact and pre-contact in the Western Hemisphere; general interest in Roman and Greek archaeology.