NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: biology, fish habitat, fish, traditional knowledge

Objective(s): Traditional knowledge interviews will be conducted in each of the four GSA communities. The objective is to document traditional knowledge about loche biology and loche liver condition. Specifically, questions will be asked about loche spawning, movements, predator-prey relationships, habitat, historic changes, loche livers and traditional uses of loche.

Project Description: This project is divided into two phases: Year 1: Traditional knowledge interviews (this licence) will be conducted in each of the four GSA communities. The objective is to document traditional knowledge about loche biology and loche liver condition. Specifically, questions will be asked about loche spawning, movements, predator-prey relationships, habitat, historic changes, loche livers and traditional uses of loche. Year 2 (application may be submitted next year): Another study may be proposed next year to look at any information gaps identified from the results of the interviews, literature search and loche sampling. The Nihtat RRC, Ehdiitat RRC, Gwichya RRC, and Tetlit RRC will be asked to provide a list of the knowledgeable (past and current) Gwich’in harvesters. These harvesters will be contacted and asked to participate in the interviews. A community coordinator will be hired to help organize, schedule and participate in 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 to promote a more free-flowing discussion. Approximately 10 harvesters will be interviewed from each community (total 40 interviews). Interviews will be recorded with a digital recorder with permission from the interviewee. Photographs will also be taken with the interviewee’s permission. Translators will be made available for any harvesters that would prefer to be interviewed in Gwich’in. Another research license was granted earlier this year for loche sampling to be conducted during the spring and fall time, this research is separate from this application. Please see licence 14141 for more information or contact the primary investigator. The researchers will work very closely with the community members and Renewable Resource Councils (RRC) to insure that the community is satisfied with the consultation. They will produce a plain language report for the communities and are open for other methods of communication such as presentations. Fieldwork will be conducted from August 17 to December 31, 2007 in the communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson.