NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, cultural relevance, cultural revitalization, ethnicity

Objective(s): The purpose of this study is to facilitate contact and communication between visiting professionals (government personnel and other agencies of Western society) with Indigenous communities and individuals.

Project Description: The purpose of this study is to facilitate contact and communication between visiting professionals (government personnel and other agencies of Western society) with Indigenous communities and individuals. The objectives of this research are : (1) to facilitate knowledge by visiting professionals in communicating with Indigenous peoples; (2) to facilitate harmony and respect between said-professionals and Indigenous communities/peoples; (3) to facilitate acceptance of "outsiders" by Indigenous peoples; (4) to minimize destruction of Indigenous cultures, customs, and languages; and (5) to facilitate the resurgence of Indigenous cultures. The researcher will conduct individual interviews of approximately 60 minutes in length. The researcher will use audio recording to capture the interview, and take notes as reinforcement. The second research tool will be a focus group with those who have volunteered from her individual interviews. In facilitating this approach, the researcher will ask the questions and then become more of a listener and observer. She will include a person to be the flip chart recorder and another to silently observe, noting data of who speaks to whom and how often. A verbal connection will first be initiated with a written consent form explained and signed (copy for participant and a copy for researcher’s files). There is an option to withdraw from the research at any time without prejudice; data will be returned. Each individual in the interviews will have the opportunity to review and clarify transcribed tapes and notes. The focus group participants will as well have the opportunity to clarify during the forum and later review notes to ensure accuracy. The gender will be mixed with ages ranging upwards of forty years. This is significant due to the expertise they have acquired as a result of cultural and traditional living. All participants are members of and live in Indigenous communities. The elders that will be invited include one male from Yellowknife, NT; one female from N'Dilo, NT; one female from Fort Providence, NT; and one male, one female from Fort Smith, NT, and one female from Tuktoyaktuk, NT. All data related to the participants will be safely locked and secured for confidentiality at all times. The researcher will arrange to meet each individual elder who took part in the interviews and focus group, with the results of her research at the end of the project. The elders may request the information to be shared with leaders or significant others in the community. She will follow the elders’ direction. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 13 to August 30, 2009, in Fort Providence, Yellowknife (Dettah and N'Dilo), Fort Smith, and Tuktoyaktuk. .