Description
The Cultural Heritage Monitor (CHM) training program provides course participants with valuable applied field and research skills and experience in the expanding field of cultural resource management.
The CHM program will introduce participants to Cultural Resource Management and provide ‘tools’ and skills well beyond the limitations of traditional archaeological methods. This program provides community members with practical skills in field archaeology, heritage assessments, heritage site visits, local site and community visits, applicable laws and regulations, research techniques such as: meaningful community engagement, consultation and interviewing, archival research and the use of mapping and GIS using radar, drones, photography and videography.
Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.
The CHM program will also introduce new trends in cultural tourism, museums and curation and public cultural resource management. This course is designed as an advanced course and next level of training for those who have completed our RISC Archaeology & CMT Training for Crew Members.
The three-day (24-hour) CHM program, taught by some of BC’s most respected and innovative anthropologists, archaeologists and CHM specialists, is leading edge in design, content and value to communities and community members.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the CHM program, students will be able to:
- Define Archaeology in BC
- Define ‘Living Cultures’
- Identify and contrast contemporary issues in Archaeology
- Identify key procedures in an archaeological assessment
- Conduct standard sampling, excavation and analysis procedures
- Apply laws, regulations and protection measures of archaeological Sites
- Conduct local site and community visits
- Conduct practical heritage assessments
- Conduct research at the community level
- Identify community engagement and consultation methods
- Conduct a culturally appropriate interview and focus group
- Identify mapping techniques using maps and GIS
- Identify the application of modern CRM research technologies: radar, drones, photography and videography
- Assist in preparing a cultural overview assessment
- Develop a community-based Interview Guide
Course Format
The three-day (24-hour) Cultural Heritage Monitor Program is typically delivered Tuesday-Thursday in any given week (this can be modified by request). The daily format can vary, as most everyday includes field training, which may involve travel to field sites. The CHM Program delivery ‘season’ will vary by region, as the program requires suitable field conditions (unfrozen soil, no snow on ground, etc.).
Course Customization
This course can also be customized for an organization and/or community based on their needs. In its standard format, this course is a three or five-day training program. NRTG can deliver this program independently, or combined with another NRTG training program. For instance, this course could be delivered as a one week course along with our RISC Archaeology & CMT Training for Crew Members, Environmental Field Skills Certificate Program, or any other NRTG training program.
Please contact us with your ideas and needs, and we’ll work with you to design and deliver a specialized training program that meets your needs.
Potential Students
Course participants typically include: existing environmental technicians, Aboriginal stakeholders and community members and resource workers.
Pre-requisites
This course is an advanced course and next level of training for those who have completed our RISC Archaeology & CMT Training for Crew Members. The RISC Archaeology course is not a mandatory prerequisite, but is recommended.
Personal Equipment Requirements
Course participants are required to provide their own personal field clothing (e.g., warm layers, sturdy boots, gloves, rain gear, etc.).
Course Fees
Course fees will vary by course delivery location. For further information, please refer to our Course Schedule.
How do I Attend?
The CHM is delivered on contract to community groups, companies or organizations. Individuals interested in attending a CHM delivery are advised to contact us, where we will provide potential CHM delivery dates and locations to attend.
If you would like to have the Cultural Heritage Monitor program delivered to your group or community, please consider the following:
- Contact us well in advance of your preferred course start date
- If applicable, secure program funding
- Recruit course participants (most NRTG courses have minimum enrollments of 10 participants)
- Coordinate course participant equipment, classroom facility, and contractual agreement with NRTG.
Frequently Asked Questions
The three-day fully online Cultural Heritage Monitor course is offered year-round.
Course participants are required to provide their own personal protective field clothing, waterproof field notebook, appropriate field clothing, own transportation, computer and internet access.
No, there is no requirement to recertify for this program. If there is a significant pause in your environmental monitoring fieldwork (e.g., four years or more), we would recommend that you recertify with NRTG. Note: all NRTG courses include free, lifetime certification. Enrol once – come back anytime.
Absolutely! First, identify an upcoming CHM program of interest and notify NRTG well in advance of the start date. We will do our best to create a free seat for past NRTG students and coordinate your attendance during the program.
The CHM program explores topics that go beyond field archaeology. The Cultural Heritage Monitor (CHM) training program provides course participants with valuable applied field and research skills and experience in the expanding field of cultural resource management.
The CHM program will introduce participants to Cultural Resource Management and provide ‘tools’ and skills well beyond the limitations of traditional archaeological methods. This program provides community members with practical skills in field archaeology, heritage assessments, heritage site visits, local site and community visits, applicable laws & regulations, research techniques such as: meaningful community engagement, consultation & interviewing, archival research, and the use of mapping and GIS using radar, drones, photography and videography. The RISC course focuses on field archaeology and includes both daily classroom and field training and exercises, where participants learn skills and abilities in: site identification, survey design and procedures, and data and site recording procedures. Upon successful completion, participants are registered with the BC provincial government as a Certified RISC Technician, and receive a certificate signed and endorsed by the BC Archaeology Branch.