Recognizing Difference: Dene Women's Changing Involvement in Traditional Dene Games
Principal Investigator: Giles, Audrey R. (22)
Licence Number: 13412
Organization: University of Alberta
Licensed Year(s): 2003
Issued: Apr 08, 2003
Project Team: N/A

Objective(s): The intent of this research project is to study Dene women's involvement in traditional games and physical activity as well as the impact of menstrual traditions on these activities. Interviews with residents of Sambaa K'e and Jean Marie River and with sports administrators will be used to elicit retrospective historical information as well as current opinions and knowledge. Sambaa K'e is one of the few communities to practice menstrual seclusion, while Jean Marie River was the first community to bring women to the regional trials for the Dene portion of the Arctic Winter Games. The way in which the female members of these communities understand the sex-based disparities that exist in participation in sport, games and physical activity as well as the ways in which menstruation is implicated in these disparities are the main focuses of this research. The three main goals of the research are: 1) to learn about the way(s) Dene women understand the influence of sex/gender and menstrual traditions on their involvement in sport, games and physical activity, especially in Dene Games and Arctic Winter Games; 2) to work with community members of Sambaa K'e and Jean Marie River so that they can have a more complete history about themselves; and 3) to create a lasting resource for the community members of Sambaa K'e and Jean Marie River.