NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, climate change, anthropology, food security

Objective(s): To document and describe the nature of food insecurity of at-risk populations in Inuvik using photo voice to facilitate semi-structured interviews and focus groups.

Project Description: This research will document and describe the nature of food insecurity of at-risk populations in Inuvik using photo voice to facilitate semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The characteristics (i.e. age, sex, employment history, length in community, health status, family characteristics, etc) will be documented. The role of store foods, traditional foods, food networking and food sharing will be assessed to determine the vulnerability of Inuvik’s food systems to climate change. The interviews and focus groups will also analyze the historical changes in climate and the resulting affects on food security experienced in Inuvik. Firstly, community consultation will engage community members and local partners to develop and define local involvement. Secondly, using photography, semi-structured interviews and focus groups, the research will characterize the nature of the food system for at-risk people (eg. role of traditional foods, sharing networks, food banks, etc), examine determinants of food insecurity, document and describe adaptive strategies, and characterize the role of climatic stresses in affecting food security. The project will also attempt to identify historical cases where climatic extremes have been experienced, and document the affects and strategies used during these conditions. Participants will be community members who are considered at-risk of food insecurity and will be recruited from community centres and food bank. The methodology surrounding the conduction of the semi-structured interviews will be developed in collaboration with participants using photo voice. All interviews and group discussions with participants will be recorded and deposited in the community for safe keeping if permission is granted. This research project will empower participants as co-researchers. A full time community-based researcher will be employed and have important roles in designing, interpreting and disseminating the research, and liaising with the community at large. The project will attempt to employ youth, as it is the youth who will be the generation most affected by climate change and will be taking over important roles in the community in the coming years. Participants will work with researchers to determine the mode of knowledge transfer and dissemination of the research findings. In past projects, using similar methodology, participants have presented their photographs and research findings as an art display aimed to educate and inform stakeholders and community at large. Participants may choose to display their photographs in a web forum, local community centre, in a book, or presentation. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from September 10 to December 31, 2010.