Nicole Smith is an archaeologist, educator, and author. Since 2000, archaeological research and fieldwork have taken her to Haida Gwaii, the Discovery Islands, western and southern Vancouver Island, Great Bear Rainforest, Northwest Territories, and Tierra del Fuego in southernmost Argentina. She has worked with over 20 First Nations communities throughout coastal BC and various colleagues to broaden the knowledge about coastal heritage sites; especially clam gardens,  archaeological sites over 10,000 years old, and the effects of climate change on cultural heritage. Her teams’ results have been published internationally and recognized in the media including by the BBC, CBC’s Quirks and Quarks, and Hakai Magazine.

Nicole is also passionate about sharing stories of the past with youth. Her first book, Dig Deep: Connecting Archaeology, Oceans and Us, was published by Orca Book Publishers in March 2023, and has received seven commendations and awards including: a Public Communications Award in the Writer/Producer category from the Canadian Archaeological Association (2024); a Blueberry Changemakers Award from the Evanston Public Library (2023); CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens -Commended (2023); Ontario Library Association (OLA) Best Bets - Honourable Mention (2023); The Nature Generation Green Earth Book Award - Children’s Nonfiction - Long-listed (2024); Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) Book Awards - Youth Category - Long-listed (2023); Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards - Nonfiction - Nominated (2025). Nicole is presently working on her second book about archaeology for young readers.