NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: contaminants, mining, social sciences, community consultation

Objective(s): To assess the communication strategy associated with the Giant Mine Remediation Plan

Project Description: The overall research question is “Did the information provided to stakeholders (and other interested and affected parties) about the Giant Mine Remediation Plan allow them to equally and fairly participate in the consultation process?” Specific objectives of this research are: 1. To review available documents on the Giant Mine Remediation Plan, and assess these in terms of accessibility, content and ease of understanding. 2. To understand stakeholder perspectives on the information provided to them on the Giant Mine Remediation Plan. 3. To identify the key sources of information for stakeholders through their information seeking behaviour. 4. To provide recommendations on: (a) the nature and type of information required by stakeholders to participate in consultation processes about contaminant issues; and (b) what is needed to provide stakeholders with the capacity they need to equally and fairly participate in these processes. The work will be accomplished through in-depth semi-structured interviews with key informants who represent stakeholders to the consultation process. The results obtained through these two methods will allow for the development of recommendations. Ten to fifteen semi-structured interviews will be held with stakeholders and other interested/ affected parties for the Giant Mine Remediation Plan consultation process. Each interview is anticipated to take 1 to 1 ½ hours of the participants’ time. All interviews will be digitally recorded (with permission from the participants). Recordings will be transcribed and, if requested by the interviewee, pseudonyms used to ensure confidentiality. The information will then be imported into a qualitative data analysis program for review and analysis. Interviews will be coded using a constant-comparative and concept-development approach on emergent themes and categories that evolve through the course of the research. The local research advisory team has played an active role in helping to design the research project, and will continue to be involved in the study as both advisors and information providers. An offer to present the results of the study will be made to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) Band Council, the Native Women’s Association of the NWT, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Giant Mine Community Alliance (GMCA), the City of Yellowknife, the North Slave Métis Alliance, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB). Copies of all materials produced from the study will be provided to these groups/agencies; all study participants, and anyone else who expresses interest in the results of the project. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from October 9, 2010 to December 31, 2010.