NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, petroleum industry, aboriginal community, community consultation

Objective(s): The objectives of this research project are to gain a greater understanding of the nature and scope of aboriginal participation in the JRP for the Mackenzie Gas Project, and of the factors that hindered or enabled individual aboriginal peoples of the northern Mackenzie Valley to participate in the environmental assessment for this project.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to gain a greater understanding of the nature and scope of aboriginal participation in the JRP for the Mackenzie Gas Project, and of the factors that hindered or enabled individual aboriginal peoples of the northern Mackenzie Valley to participate in the environmental assessment for this project. An archival search of government documents, industry studies and JRP records will be undertaken, followed by interviews of key informants (20-25 individuals for up to 1 hr.). Government, industry, aboriginal and non-profit organizations will be contacted, as well as aboriginal individuals in Inuvik, Fort McPherson and Aklavik who either participated or desired to participate in the JRP community hearings. Participants will be selected using snowball and theoretical sampling. Some informants will be contacted through government and lists of JRP participants, others through personal acq... Show moreuaintance. All will be asked to suggest other participants. Translators will be used as necessary, and compensation is available to individuals participating on their own time. Interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts will be reviewed by the participants to ensure that they accurately reflect views. Finally, a survey of 10-15 questions will be conducted with approximately 200 aboriginal community members in Inuvik, Fort McPherson and Aklavik, either in the Northmart or done door-to-door. Participants will be recompensed fiscally or through the possibility of winning a prize. Participants will be asked to give written or oral consent. A summary of results will be provided to communities and government bodies, and a copy of the finished research given to the ARI library. A press release will be given to local media. Input from the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute and Inuvialuit Community Development Division into research design will be sought. Fieldwork will be conducted from June 01 to September 07, 2008 in Inuvik, Fort McPherson and Aklavik . Show less