NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: fish, traditional knowledge, ecology, arctic char

Objective(s): The objectives of the study are to document traditional ecological knowledge of Rat River char. Specifically, the researcher will be asking questions about: catch of char; biology of char (e.g., spawning, migration); fishing practices; fishing at the Rat River fish hole; observations on the land related to char; changes in the environment related to char; char predators - concerns and observations; char management; other comments (e.g., stories about char).

Project Description: The objectives of the study are to document traditional ecological knowledge of Rat River char. Specifically, the researcher will be asking questions about: catch of char; biology of char (e.g., spawning, migration); fishing practices; fishing at the Rat River fish hole; observations on the land related to char; changes in the environment related to char; char predators - concerns and observations; char management; other comments (e.g., stories about char). The Aklavik HTC, Aklavik RRC, and Fort McPherson RRC have each been asked to provide a list of knowledgeable (past and current) harvesters (they have also been asked to provide input into the study). These harvesters will be contacted and asked to participate in the interviews. A community contact will help to organize and schedule the interviews. Interviews will take place in the communities, either at the harvester’s home or at a neutral location if that is preferred. Interviews will be semi-directed with some specific questions and other more open-ended questions aimed at promoting a more free-flowing discussion. Funding and timing dependent, the researcher hopes to interview around 10 harvesters this year. Translators will be available for those interviewees who prefer to participate in Gwich'in or Inuvialuktun. Residents of Aklavik and Fort McPherson will be interviewed. When the interviews are compiled, the results will be presented back to the participants in a group workshop (or perhaps in brief meetings with individuals). At this point, participants will have a chance to review and comment on the information. A report will be written and provided to the appropriate organizations. Fieldwork will be conducted from July 30 to September 28, 2007 in and around the communities of Fort McPherson and Aklavik.