2006 Traditional Knowledge Study in Fort Good Hope
Principal Investigator: Martin, Sandy D (8)
Licence Number: 13957
Organization: Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited
Licensed Year(s): 2006
Issued: Apr 10, 2006

Project Description: The study marks a continuation of Traditional Knowledge work initiated, as part of the Mackenzie Gas Project, with the community of Fort Good Hope in 2003. Local knowledge and technical/scientific research, in combination with a synthesis of existing technical information, is being used to develop a suitable knowledge base for planning, assessment of impacts and development of environmental protection plans. AMEC Americas Ltd. will be subcontracting the Yamoga Land Corporation or another suitable community organization to collect and document Traditional Knowledge for this project. A Traditional Knowledge Working Group will be established in consultation with community organizations in Fort Good Hope to decide on content to be studied, determine precise study area boundaries, recommend methods for community participation, identify holders of Traditional Knowledge, and review maps and reports produced during the study. As a part of this arrangement, local researchers will be hired to collect and analyze data. It is anticipated that the study will document data related to wildlife, birds, fisheries, vegetation, historical/cultural/spiritual sites, climate, soil conditions, hydrology and hydrogeology, human health, cumulative effects and other relevant social, economic and environmental issues. Secondary sources will be used to identify Traditional Knowledge and socioeconomic information, after which a data gap assessment will be conducted. If there are gaps in the information, interviews with holders of Traditional Knowledge will be conducted. Each interviewee will be required to sign a consent form or give verbal consent (which will be tape-recorded) at the start of interviews. The confidentiality of all interviewees will be strictly maintained. Subjects will not be identified by name, in any publication, without their prior written or recorded verbal permission. If necessary, subjects will be coded to a number, and identified only by that number. Only a small number of project analysts will have access to the information and code, and will not release confidential information without authorized consent. All data collected during the course of this project will be stored in the Calgary offices of AMEC and Imperial Oil Resources. Relevant community organizations will receive regular updates, and a non-technical summary of the final project reports. The study will be conducted from April 10 to December 31, 2006 in the vicinity of Fort Good Hope, within portions of the community’s traditional lands susceptible to potential effects from the Mackenzie Gas Project.