The evolving relationship between the social economy and the state in Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Principal Investigator: Sabin, Jerald (3)
Licence Number: 14592
Organization: Carleton University
Licensed Year(s): 2009
Issued: Aug 12, 2009
Project Team: Frances Abele (Supervisor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University)

Objective(s): The goal of this work is to produce two journal articles: (1) an analytical survey of Yellowknife’s developing social economy from 1934 to 1955, with particular emphasis on its relationship to local and regional government; (2) an examination of the evolving relationship between social economy actors and federal/territorial state institutions and their employees in Yellowknife from 1955 to the present.

Project Description: The goal of this work is to produce two journal articles: (1) an analytical survey of Yellowknife’s developing social economy from 1934 to 1955, with particular emphasis on its relationship to local and regional government; (2) an examination of the evolving relationship between social economy actors and federal/territorial state institutions and their employees in Yellowknife from 1955 to the present. Besides the two journal articles, the research will also contribute to a book being prepared by the project’s supervisor, Dr. Frances Abele. This project will consist of two phases. First, archival research will be conducted at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, and at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The researcher will review municipal correspondence, meeting records and transcripts, bylaws, and licenses, as well as federal and territorial documentation during both periods (1934-1955; 1955-2009). All of these files are publicly accessible. He will also review oral history holdings and make use of those that are both pertinent and publicly available. The second phase will consist of qualitative interviews with key informants in the following categories: Public sector: This group includes past and future employees of the City of Yellowknife, the Government of Northwest Territories, and the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. These participants will be selected based on their professional knowledge of social economy and its development. Private sector: These potential participants include small business owners and other private sector actors with a long-term association with the City of Yellowknife and its social economy. Third sector: These potential participants include current employees/volunteers with non-profits (i.e. YWCA, Daughters of the Midnight Sun), community associations (i.e. NWT Seniors Society, Yellowknife Association for Community Living), recreation associations (i.e. Yellowknife Slo-pitch Association), and churches, amongst others. Aboriginal, municipal and territorial leaders: These potential participants include present and past presidents of Aboriginal organizations, mayors of Yellowknife, municipal councillors, and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Long-term residents of Yellowknife: These potential participants include long-term residents of Yellowknife, and particularly elderly residents of the community. These participants will not be contacted directly, but instead, will be recruited with the assistance of community associations such as the NWY Seniors Society. Results will be communicated through journal articles, a book, media interviews, and the distribution of a report/update to interview participants. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 12 to 31, 2009, in Yellowknife.