NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, wellness, mental health, ethnography

Objective(s): To understand the conditions which enable people to overcome negative life events, to feel in control in changing life circumstances, and to have a sense of well-being as individuals and within their community.

Project Description: The goal of this project is to understand the conditions which enable people to overcome negative life events, to feel in control in changing life circumstances, and to have a sense of well-being as individuals and within their community. The following objectives are based on suggestions from the community and are expected to contribute to answering the research question: 1. To study the relationship between volunteerism in the community and a personal sense of control and well-being; 2. To look at sewing as a way of feeling "grounded" and dealing with painful memories; and 3. To study the role of landscape and place in local healing practices. Starting summer 2011, the researcher will work together with community members, for one year by living, learning, and working in the community. Methods will consist of participation in everyday life, the recording of life stories and sewing practices on audio or video, as well as creative video or photo projects with youth. On request of the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute, life stories and practices should be recorded to provide the community with a record of the knowledge that was shared. Throughout the project, the researcher will report to the Elders and the Youth Council to continuously adjust the methods used to the needs of the community. The preferences and concerns of community governing bodies and individual community members with regards to the research topics and methods will be fully taken into account throughout the duration of the project. Upon suggestion of the community, the study will document past and present volunteerism and provide the results in a form that is usable in various community settings. In addition, the project will work with young adults on creating video or photo materials, which support the creative skills and research capacity of youth in the community. These materials will remain in the community. The project will result in various audio and video recordings of life stories, volunteer activities, and sewing practices which will remain in the community for its own record. The topic of the research will focus on the community's and Gwich'in individuals’ expertise and strength in overcoming negative experiences. The collection of such knowledge can be used by the community for educational purposes, for the community's archive, as evidence for the strength of Gwich'in culture, and as argument in wellness related project and funding negotiations. If possible the researcher will work with translators. During the project, the researcher will report regularly to the Band Council, Elder and Youth Council, Hamlet Council, and once a year at the GSCI Board meeting. There is the option to inform community members about project activities on a regular basis over the radio. After the project is completed, a presentation will be summarized of the results for each community council and to share over the radio. The accuracy of information gathered will be reviewed by the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute (GSCI) and by participants before reporting it to the public or submitting a thesis to the university. The completed thesis will be shared with all relevant community organizations. In collaboration with the Youth Council, the researcher hopes to organize a community event to present any visual material created by youth and provide the chance to give credit to everyone who contributed. The documentation of past and present volunteerism is hoped to result in a booklet that can be used for community purposes. Final results will be published as academic papers and presented at conferences. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.