Education

2018               Master’s of Environmental Studies: Northern Environments and Cultures

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Boyd

Thesis: Residue Analysis of Pre-Contact Small and Miniature Pottery: A Multi-Proxy Approach

2012               BA Honours Anthropology & BA International Development Studies

University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Work Experience

Present           Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre: Collections Manager
Working with Rainy River First Nations to manage archaeological and ethnographic collections at KNCWN,                                       creating artifact databases, assisting RRFN with repatriation initiatives, preparing funding applications,
presenting on Centre activities to the community, at academic conferences, and in schools

2017                Lakehead University: Lab Technician
Analyzed organic residues from pot sherds from the Lockport site. Methods included gas chromatography coupled                          mass spectrometry (GC-MS), fourier transmitted infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), in-situ transmitted light                                              microscopy, and biochemical tests

2016-2017       Lakehead University: Cataloguer

Cataloguing artifacts and processing soil samples from test pits dug at the Macgillivray                                                                              (DbJm-3) site, a Woodland period site on Whitefish Lake in Northwestern Ontario

2016                WSP: Archaeology Field Technician
Stage 2 archaeological excavations at the Zanette Site (Borden TBD), Maze Bay, Lac des Milles Lacs, in                                                 Northwestern Ontario

2015-2016       Lakehead University: Archaeology Field Technician
Stage 2 archaeological excavations at the Macgillivray site (DbJm-3), Whitefish Lake, Northwestern Ontario

2016                Western Heritage: Cataloguer

Cataloguing artifacts from excavations at the Mackenzie (DdJf-9) and Woodpecker (DdJf-12,                                                                  DdJf-14) sites, Paleoindian period sites in Thunder Bay, Ontario

2014-2016       Lakehead University: Graduate Assistant

Supervising and marking labs and exams for undergrad classes, giving lectures

2015                Saskatchewan Archaeological Society: ArchaeoCaravan Supervisor

Assisting museums with artifact identifications, interpretation, and displays. Delivering                                                                            educational programming to schools and the public regarding archaeology and Saskatchewan’s archaeological                                    heritage

2014                 The Manitoba Museum: Cataloguer

Cleaning, researching, and cataloguing artifacts for the Department of Archaeology

2013-2014       The Manitoba Museum: Visitor Services Advocate

Providing customer service in the museum box offices, gift shop, planetarium, and

reception desk

2013-2014        The Manitoba Museum: Digital Graphics

Creating customized maps for the Department of Archaeology

Archaeology Field Experience
2016                Archaeology Field Technician

Jason Stephenson, WSP Canada Inc.

– Zanette Site (Borden TBD), Thunder Bay, Ontario. Stage 2

-Maze Bay, Lac des Milles Lacs, Northwestern Ontario. Stage 2

Dr. Matthew Boyd, Lakehead University

-Macgillivray (DbJm-3), Whitefish Lake, Ontario. Woodland Site. Stage 2

2015                Archaeology Field Technician

Dr. Matthew Boyd, Lakehead University

-Martin Bird (DbJm-5), Whitefish Lake, Ontario. Woodland Site. Stage 2

Archaeology Field Technician

Brad Hyslop

Lac Seul (EaKa-1), Ontario. Woodland Site. Stage 2 & 3

Archaeology Field Supervisor

Dr. Tomasin Playford, Saskatchewan Archaeology Society (SAS)

The Farr Site (DjNf-8), Ogema, Saskatchewan. Public archaeology. Early Period Site. Stage 3

Archaeology Field Supervisor

Clarence Surette, Lakehead University

-Hamilton Site (DcJh-59), Thunder Bay, Ontario. Stage 1, 2, & 3.

2014               Field Crew

Clarence Surette, Lakehead University

-Lakehead University Campus (DcJh-13, DcJh-14, DcJh-15), Thunder Bay, Ontario. Stage 1

2012                Field School (Student)

Dr. Roland Sawatzky & Valerie McKinley, University of Winnipeg

-The Blumenhof site (DjLd-3), University of Winnipeg Archaeological Field School, Steinbach, Manitoba. Historic                            -Mennonite House Barn. Stage 3

Awards & Recognitions
2016                Canadian Archaeological Association Graduate Student Poster Contest Award              $250

2015/2016       SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Scholarship                                   $17,500

2015/2016       Ontario Graduate Scholarship (Declined)                                                                        $15,000

2014/2015       Lakehead University Entrance Scholarship                                                                      $1500

2007/2008       University of Winnipeg Entrance Scholarship                                                     $1000

Professional Activities
2018                Session Co-Chair, Winnipeg

Co-chaired and organized a session at the 2018 Canadian Archaeological Association                                                                                  Conference

2017                Documentary, Thunder Bay

Appeared as a researcher in the documentary film Mysteries Beneath: The Story of First Nations Farmers.                                          Produced by Coleen Rajotte. Premiered at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, November 23-26, 2017

2012                Museum Exhibit, Winnipeg

Researched and designed an exhibit for the University of Winnipeg Anthropology

Museum, “A Collection of Thai Musical Instruments”

2011-2012       University of Winnipeg Anthropology Students Association, Winnipeg

Organized events such as student colloquiums, visiting speaker series, and fundraising events

Volunteer Experience & Public Outreach

2014-2017       Lakehead University, Thunder Bay

Volunteering for the Anthropology Department and helping with various projects and events                                                                    including archaeology day, research and innovation week

2011-2014       The Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg

Research assistant for Dr. E. Leigh Syms, Associate Curator in the Department of   Archaeology;                                                              Interpreter and attendant for various exhibits

2012-2014      Seven Oaks Middle School, Winnipeg

Teaching art classes to students in both English and French; designing sets for school musicals

Memberships

•   Member of the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA)

•   Member of the Ontario Archaeological Society (OAS)

•   Member of the Manitoba Archaeological Association (MAS)

•   Member of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Association (SAS)

Skills & Certifications

·      Fluent in French & English

·      Trained on SU-70 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

·      Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Certification

·      CPR and First Aid Certified

Presentations
Speirs, K. (2018) Bii-azhe Ḡiiwé iná daanig: Let’s Bring Them Home. Paper presented at the 51st annual Canadian Archaeological Association Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 2-6, 2018

Speirs, K. Montague, T., and Hunter, C. (2017) Reclaiming the Past: First Nations Led Repatriation and Collections Management. Paper presented at the Ontario Archaeological Society Annual Symposium in Brantford, Ontario, November 17-19, 2017

Speirs, K. (2017) Non-Destructive Residue Analysis on Small and Miniature Pottery Using Gas Chromatography Coupled Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Paper presented at the 50th annual Canadian Archaeological Association Conference in Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebeck, May 10-13, 2017

Speirs, K. (2015) Food Choices, Environmental Diversity, and the Late Woodland of Central Canada. Lakehead Graduate Student Conference, March 9, 2015

Syms, E. Leigh and Speirs, K. (2014) Moving Plants to the Foreground of the Northern Plains of Canada! Saluting Manitoba’s Avocational Archaeologists and the 100th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great War, 2014 Fall Conference & AGM, Brandon, Manitoba Oct 4, 2014

Syms, E. Leigh, and Speirs, K. (2012) Watch Out Bison! The Plants Are Coming Out!

Created power point presentation for the 70th Plains Anthropological Conference, October 3-6, 2012

Speirs, K. (2012) North American Mounds. Paper presented at the University of Winnipeg Anthropology Students Association Colloquium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 24, 2012

Speirs, K. (2011) Capacocha: Human Sacrifice Among the Inca. Paper presented at the University of Winnipeg New World Landscape and Archaeology Colloquium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, April 2, 2011

Publications
Matheson, C., Bouchard, S., Speirs, K. 2017. Lockport Report 2017. Lakehead University Molecular, Archaeochemistry and Residue Services. Lakehead University.

Speirs, K. 2016. Residue Analysis of Pre-Contact Small and Miniature Pottery: A Multi-Proxy Approach. Poster presented at the 2016 CAA’s in Whitehorse, Yukon, May 6th, 2016

Barry, J., Speirs, K., Surette, C. 2015. Determining Archaeological Significance of Unflaked Stones from Paleoindian Sites Using Micro-Analytical Techniques. Poster presented at the CAA 47th Annual Meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland, May 1, 2015

Speirs, K. 2015. Book Review. History in the Making: The Archaeology of the Eastern Subarctic. Polar Geography: Taylor & Francis Online, 38:1

Speirs, K. 2014. North American Mounds. University of Manitoba Anthropology Student’s Association Journal, 32

Syms, E. Leigh, Dedi, T., Speirs, K., Wowchuk, G., and Susan Broadhurst. 2014. Identifying New Late Woodland Ceramic Traditions in the Swan Valley, Western Manitoba. Manitoba Archaeological Journal, 24 (1 & 2)

Syms, E. Leigh, and Speirs K. 2014. Moving Plants to the Forefront of the Northern Canadian Plains of Canada. Abstract. Saluting Manitoba’s Avocational Archaeologists and the 100th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great War, Manitoba Archaeological Society Fall Conference & Annual General Meeting, Brandon, Manitoba, The Manitoba Museum

Syms, E. Leigh, Speirs, K., and Holly Durawa. 2014. Aboriginal Peoples as First Nations Cultivators: Centuries of Plant Use and Cultivation before the Europeans. In: Aboriginal Relationships with Plants and Cultivation in Manitoba (Sarah Carter, Editor), University of Manitoba Press (In Press)

Syms, E. Leigh, Speirs, K., Broadhurst, S., and Don Watson. 2014. The Don Watson Collection from the Dobbyn’s Flat Site, Southwestern Manitoba. Report on file, The Manitoba Museum

Syms, E. Leigh, Speirs, K., and Don Watson. 2014. Patinated Lithics Site, Napinka Area, Southwestern Manitoba: Don Watson Collection. Report on file, The Manitoba Museum

Syms, E. Leigh, and Speirs K. 2012. Abstract. Watch Out Bison! The Plants Are Coming Out!

70th Plains Anthropological Conference Abstracts

Speirs, K. 2012. Archaeological Advocacy. Steinbach Online. Mennonite Heritage Village. www.steinbachonline.com/community/mhv/page/2/

Speirs, K. 2012. North American Mounds. University of Winnipeg Anthropology Students Association Colloquium Abstracts, (Vol. 32)