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There are 5 Members-at-Large that sit on the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society Board.

Erica Maier
Saskatoon, SK

My name is Erica Maier and I am interested in joining the SAS Board as a Member-at-Large. I live in Saskatoon, SK and work with Meewasin Valley Authority as an Interpreter (aka Environmental Educator), as well as part-time Sales Associate with Outter Limits. 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 have worked at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, as a Junior Archaeologist at Stantec, and in various non-profits with a focus on educational programming. I am a musician, lover of the environment and nature, and I am passionate about public education. From previous work and volunteer experience, I bring a skill set of fundraising, social media, graphic design, inclusive program planning, volunteer coordinating, and experience in designing educational, tourism and recreation programs.


Sharon (LaFlamme) Meyer
Carrot River, SK

Sharon is a Treaty 6 member of the Cree Nation, Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) with distinction and recipient of the Bates Award and Aurora Award for teaching excellence during internship. She received her BEd in 1991 and her PGD in 2001. She has served the Saskatoon Catholic Schools, first as an elementary teacher, then as a vice-principal promoted to principal at St. Michael Community School then moved to be the Aboriginal Education Coordinator for the Saskatoon Catholic School Board. Mrs. Meyer then returned to principalship at Joe Duquette High School in Saskatoon where she continually fostered and encouraged the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth of her students and staff.

In the spring of 2005, she became principal of the newly constructed Muskoday First Nation Community School at Muskoday First Nation near Prince Albert, SK. She returned to Saskatoon in 2009 and served as a grade one teacher at St. Maria Gorettti Community School. In the summer of 2011 she became a resident in the farming community of Carrot River and married Ian Meyer on Feburary 19, 2013. She is presently the North East School Division – First Nation and Métis Education Consultant.

In addition to her tremendous vision and excellent leadership, Mrs. Meyer has represented the Aboriginal community in a variety of other roles, including as a board member of United Way of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Catholic Schools Foundation, Teaching Women Dollars and Sense, Saskatoon Friendship Inn, Nipawin Oasis Center, and a graduating member of Leadership Saskatoon (2003) and Saskatoon Police Community Academy (2004), and Cumberland College Board of Directors (2019).

Her commitment to Aboriginal awareness and education has been rewarded with the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Excellence in Aboriginal Initiatives Award (2006). Presently she is a board member of Nipawin Community Justice Committee, and a member of the Nipawin Cumberland College First Nation and Metis Advisory Council, and most currently a member of Reconciliation Nipawin. It is through the projects involved with Reconciliation Nipawin that created awareness of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society. There was a call for Board of Director members on the website and I felt compelled to submit my name as a First Nation representative.


Wendy Fitch
Regina, SK

Wendy Fitch is currently the Interim Executive Director of the Museum Association of Saskatchewan (MAS) and has worked with the museum community in western Canada for almost 40 years. Academically, Wendy has a degree in Canadian History from the University of Calgary. She began her career with MAS as Museums Advisor where she assisted museums throughout the province in all areas of their operations from collections management to governance to exhibits. Wendy became the Executive Director of MAS in 2012.

Wendy has served on numerous committees at the national level primarily with the Canadian Museums Association – from whom she received the Distinguished Service Award in 2020. She has also served on the National Council of the National Trust for Canada. Provincially, Wendy most recently served on the Board of Heritage Saskatchewan including as President.

Wendy’s strengths are her extensive knowledge of the heritage community throughout Saskatchewan, as well as a notable understanding of governance from both the board and staff perspectives.

As she transitions to retirement Wendy would like the opportunity to share the knowledge she has gained over the years within the Saskatchewan heritage sector with the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society as a member of the Board of Directors.


Jody Pletz
Martensville, SK

I 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 my time at the University of Saskatchewan I was a member-at-large with the Saskatoon Archaeological Society. After graduation, I moved to Alberta to work as a CRM consultant. I worked in northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on various archaeological projects in my time there. While in Alberta I was actively involved in community projects with the Dene Tha First Nations in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. In addition, the consultant company that I worked with conducted annual week-long projects with Grade 3 to 9 children from the local schools involving them in archaeological excavation at a nearby site. At the end of 2021, my husband and I moved back to Saskatchewan to be closer to family and friends. I feel privileged to be considered for a position as a member-at-large and hope that my experiences in another province will be beneficial to the community.


Gary Wowchuk
Swan River, MB

An Avocational Archaeologist who has had a keen interest in the past ever since he found his first arrowheads when he was walking the fields as a youngster. The questions those fortuitous finds raised, sparked a journey for knowledge that led to a room full of books, experimental archaeology including flintknapping and pottery making. Gary has been employed as a sawmill Quality Control Supervisor the past 35 years, while volunteering in his spare time. Some of his main interests are the pre-contact archaeology of the plains, parkland and boreal forest of western North America, Paleo-Indian colonization of the Lake Agassiz basin, lithic sources and technology, and the development of pre-contact ceramics in the parkland zone of the northern plains. He has also given presentations, workshops and demonstrations to thousands of students, a number of museums, First Nations groups, Universities, events, and organizations, including the 2004 & 2018 CAA Conference in Winnipeg and the 2005 Plains Conference in Edmonton.

Gary feels very strongly about sharing with the public about our past and has initiated a number of public archaeology programs including excavation with the Swan Valley Archaeological Society and the Swan River Friendship Centre. He is a past president of the Swan Valley Historical Museum, Swan Valley Historical Society and Swan Valley Archaeological Society, Vice-President of the Association of Manitoba Archaeologists and is presently serving on the executive of the Parkland Archaeological Lab in Dauphin, Duck Mountain Forestry Interpretive Center and chairs the Swan valley School Division board of trustees. Gary was the 2014 recipient of the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion. It is quite clear that the interest that Gary Wowchuk has in the past is a lifelong passion.