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. the relationship between volunteerism in the community and a personal sense of control and well-being; 2. sewing as a way of feeling "grounded" and dealing with painful memories; and 3. the role of landscape and place in local healing practices. The researcher is researching these topics in collaboration with community members, by living, learning, and working in the community. Methods consist of participation in everyday life, especially in all volunteer activities, community events, sewing and on-the-land activities, the recording of life stories on either audio or video, as well as a creative photo project 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 such as school or youth centre. The project will result in audio, video, and written records 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 in various ways. The researcher is working with young adults on creating digital stories and posters using the photo voice method. The project will provide training in using photo editing software, raise participants' awareness of their own well-being related needs, as well as offer the opportunity to take part in analyzing, summarizing, and presenting the results. The digital stories and posters will be presented in the community. There is the option to inform community members about project activities on a regular basis over the radio. After the project is completed, the researcher will organize a presentation that summarizes the results at each community council and 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 I hope to organize a community event to present the 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 February 27, 2012 to August 31, 2012.