NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: traditional knowledge, cultural sustainability, history, literacy

Project Description: In this project the multiple literacies in the community of Holman are being examined. The researchers will gather information on precontact traditional Inuinnaqtun literacy, and on post contact historical literacy. The information will then be examined to see what aspects of these literacies can still be seen in Holman today. Traditional literacy on themes identified by community members will be gathered by interviews with elders, community workshops, audio and visual digital recordings, fieldnotes, and archival material and photos. Research findings will be presented to the community in a multi-media, bilingual format. Individuals and the community as a whole will have the opportunity at that time to provide feedback and input to the research team, with the possible result of changes and additions to the final report. A plain language final report of the research in both English and Inuinnaqtun will be available to the community and at the NWT Literacy Council web site. There will be employment for two Inuinnaqtun-speaking researchers and one youth admin. assistant. Families and elders will be paid informants for the research. Youth will be paid honoraria for participating. Students in school will be able to participate in activities derived from the information. Researchers are documenting Inuinnaqtun words and traditional knowledge which will be shared/ verified at Elders' and community workshops. The community will benefit from documentation of traditional knowledge and terminology. Research will be carried out in the community of Holman