NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, caribou, traditional knowledge, wildlife

Objective(s): To develop an understanding of caribou TK research and monitoring in the Sahtu Region and beyond.

Project Description: The goals of this research project are to: 1. Develop an understanding of caribou Traditional Knowledge (TK) research and monitoring in the Sahtu Region and beyond. 2. Share experiences among Renewable Resources Councils (RRC)s with caribou TK research; assess strengths and weaknesses in research methods and outcomes. 3. Explore caribou stewardship options that emerge from the research and how these compare with the way communities are already thinking about changes in the caribou herds. 4. Develop a framework for community-based caribou stewardship to be piloted in 2011-2012. The core of this project is a regional workshop consisting of delegates from each of the four participating RRCs. The workshop design will place emphasis on providing tools for understanding and interpretation of traditional knowledge research processes and outcomes by community researchers and RRC delegates toward developing a stewardship framework to be presented to the RRCs, Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB) and Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). In order to provide enough time for full discussion of and development of recommendations, it is proposed that the workshop be three days in duration. Keeping in mind the preliminary objectives outlined in this proposal, the workshop could include (but would not be limited to) the following activities and timeline. This will change based on feedback from the RRCs, SRRB and researchers. Day 1: • opening prayer and welcoming remarks; • review of workshop agenda; • introductions with talking circle on key concerns about caribou-community relationships Lunch; • presentation and discussion: Caribou Traditional Knowledge Study; • presentation and discussion: Community Perspectives on Changing Caribou Populations; and • wrap-up – plans for Day 2. Day 2: • welcome, summary of Day 1 and review of Day 2 agenda; • presentation and discussion: Proposed research on Culture, Resilience and Caribou (how communities remain strong and healthy in times of change); • the existing framework for caribou stewardship in the NWT, Sahtu Region and communities; • talking circle: Community strengths in traditional knowledge and practices in caribou stewardship; and • wrap-up – plans for Day 3. Day 3: • welcome, summary of Day 2 and review of Day 3 agenda; • analysis of community strengths in traditional knowledge and practices in caribou stewardship; • small group discussions by community: what are the key components of a community-based caribou stewardship plan? ; • small group reportbacks on community-based stewardship; • next steps, funding and capacity requirements for community-based caribou stewardship; • talking circle: Workshop assessment; and • wrap-up, group photo and closing prayer. This research will document traditional knowledge for future generations, and it will strengthen community capacity and participation in resource management. It will be guided by the Norman Wells Land Corporation, and will involve training and employment for at least one beneficiary, as well as broader involvement by Renewable Resources Council delegates in the research process. Results will be presented in a workshop report and plain language newsletter. Printing costs are budgeted to ensure that each community and stakeholding organization receives hard copies of these documents. It is expected that workshop delegates will orally report on the workshop to their sponsoring organizations, and presentations will be prepared for the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board as well as the 13th Arctic Ungulate Conference in Yellowknife, August 22-26, 2011. A chapter drawing from workshop discussions will be prepared for the edited collection Cultural Crossroads: Understanding Changing Caribou Populations. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from April 13, 2011 to December 31, 2011.