Al is a coastal archaeologist whose career has spanned nearly 45 years, with a concentration in Haida Gwaii and the west coast of Vancouver Island and broad experience in other parts of the Northwest Coast. Al first conducted archaeological research in Haida Gwaii in 1983 and has recorded at least 450 sites in Gwaii Haanas since that time. He has been involved in excavations at numerous Gwaii Haanas sites, some of which are nearly 11,000 years old. He has carried out extensive inventory and excavation work in Gwaii Haanas as a consultant and volunteer with Parks Canada since 1992, and most recently, in 2015, conducted intertidal archaeological site inventories on the east and west coasts. In 2018/2019 he monitored installation of boardwalks and conducted assessments of subsequent storm damage at SGang Gwaay. All is a founding and current member of the Council of the Haida Nation’s Archaeology Steering Committee.

In addition to his work in Gwaii Haanas, Al spent three years working with Washington State University in Makah First Nation traditional territory, four years working for the Museum of London in England, and 20 years working as a regulator for the British Columbia Archaeology Branch in Victoria. While at the Archaeology Branch, Al was the Provincial Liaison for the Kwädāy Dän Ts’ìnchi Project, coordinating with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Here, his research focused on a man and his belongings found frozen in a glacier in 1999, and which led to the book Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį: Teachings from Long Ago Person Found. Al has recently conducted research on early Holocene sites in the Discovery Islands for the University of Victoria and Hakai Institute and now is currently participating in a study by the Huu-ay-aht First Nation of the effects of climate change on the Kiix?in National Historic Site in Barkley Sound. He is also wrapping up a Handbook on coastal archaeological sites for the Central Coast First Nations to be published by the Province of BC.

Al is always excited to return to Gwaii Haanas – one of his favourite places in the world – aboard Passing Cloud and sharing some his adventures and research findings with Outer Shores guests.