Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Tags: environmental impact, dene culture, knowledge transfer, traditional knowledge, land use, traditional beliefs, Dehcho, public presentation
| Principal Investigator: | Villebrun, Lori (1) |
| Licence Number: | 13062 |
| Organization: | University of Calgary |
| Licensed Year(s): |
1999
|
| Issued: | Jun 25, 1999 |
| Project Team: | none |
Objective(s): The objective of this study is to determine how Dene in the Deh Cho transmit their knowledge of the land publicly in environmental hearings as compared to how they transmit the same knowledge privately among themselves. Participants in the Berger Inquiry will be located and semi-structured interviews will be conducted with them, as well as spending time with participants to observe how they pass on knowledge among themselves and within families. Key research questions are: 1) What are the differences between the way the Dene communicate their knowledge privately and the way Dene convey that knowledge in public fora; 2) What are the communication barriers which Dene face when transmitting their knowledge in both the private and public realm; 3) Can Dene articulate spiritual ties to the land effectively in the public for setting; 4) Is it always culturally appropriate for Dene to speak publicly about their traditional knowledge? Answers to such questions will help to counter the gaps in the communication process which hinders the understanding of Dene practices, values and sites of importance in the environmental impact assessment process. Exploring the transmission of indigenous knowledge will be useful and beneficial for the Dene, the resource developers and the government regulators in the north by helping all parties to better work with the various communication styles and techniques used to convey knowledge of the land.
Project Description: The objective of this study is to determine how Dene in the Deh Cho transmit their knowledge of the land publicly in environmental hearings as compared to how they transmit the same knowledge privately among themselves. Travel will be by car to Hay River, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence. Semi-structured interviews with the participants will be conducted. All participants will be given a consent form to sign, and will have the objectives, goals and methodology of the project fully explained to them and they will be free to withdraw from the project at any time. Anonymity of the participants will be maintained and each will be paid a set fee for their participation. It is estimated that a total of 15-18 interviews will be conducted using a tape recorder (if acceptable to the participant) and notes will be taken for the observations. How participants convey and pass on indigenous knowledge between themselves and within families will also be observed.
