Samantha Letemplier

Assistant Preventive Conservation Advisor, Preventive Conservation Division

Main areas of work and/or specializations

• preventive conservation
• facilities assessments and advisory services

Biography

Samantha earned her B.A in Archaeology (Honours) with a double major in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her focus was on archaeological materials from small community collections and Indigenous sites in Newfoundland and Labrador with a special interest in lithic analysis. Her honours discussed the analysis, documentation and conservation of a collection of Paleo-Inuit Middle Dorset stone tools and highlighted the importance of public outreach programs (like the Community Collections Archaeological Research Project) in protecting archaeological materials, spreading public awareness, fostering research and fostering a good relationship between the general public and archaeologists.

Following her B.A., Samantha obtained a graduate certificate in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College (now Fleming College). Her final project involved the consolidation and reconstruction of a Cree goose decoy and the consolidation and rehousing in new enclosures of several other goose decoy parts from the same collection that are kept in trust at the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute (ACCI). After obtaining her graduate certificate, she completed two internships at ACCI in conservation and collections management.

She then went on to work for other institutions, including the Greater Sudbury Museums and Ingenium. Her focus has been in the conservation of archaeological, Indigenous and small community collections. A large part of her work has involved examining archaeological and conservation practices through a decolonizing lens and advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and voices in the curation and conservation of Indigenous collections and sites.