NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region, Qikiqtaaluk Region

Tags: traditional knowledge, education, cultural relevance, educational evaluation, student curriculum, post-secondary programming

Objective(s): To document, evaluate and support the development of Dechinta Bush University Centre for Research and Learning; to contribute to expertise, knowledge and understanding around land-based, Northern and Indigenous research and teaching more broadly; and to contribute to the development of partnerships and networks that support the creation and success of Northern-led and Northern-oriented university research and teaching.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to: 1) document, evaluate and support the development of Dechinta Bush University Centre for Research and Learning; Including: A. governance practices, institutional structures and partnerships, B. teaching quality, C. the integration of land-based learning with university programming, D. students' personal and academic development and success, and E. curriculum development. 2) contribute to expertise, knowledge and understanding around land-based, Northern and Indigenous research and teaching more broadly; and 3) contribute to the development of partnerships and networks that support the creation and success of Northern-led and Northern-oriented university research and teaching. These objectives have been developed through collaboration with Dechinta Bush University and with local leaders, elders and community members. The methods for this project will include: 1) In-depth interviews with Dechinta participants including students, instructors, staff and elders. 0.5-2 hours via telephone with audio recording and/or note-taking. 2) Analysis of secondary data provided by Dechinta Bush University. This data was collected as part of Dechinta’s standard evaluation process and includes questionnaires and notes taken by staff during the semester. 3) Ongoing monitoring of Dechinta graduate activities. 4) Ongoing working group of instructors and partners to assess, generate and develop curriculum. These methods are designed not only to gather data for the current project, but also to contribute directly to the educational experiences of Dechinta students by developing students' own research, analysis and communication skills. Both data collection and data analysis methods are informed by the Indigenous, decolonizing, community and land-based knowledge and values that inform Dechinta Bush University as a whole. The project supports the the development of university research and teaching in the NWT that is lead by and responds to the needs of Northern and Indigenous communities. It does so by supporting the creation, development and expansion of Dechinta Bush University: Center for Research and Learning. As such, the project directly contributes to the creation of opportunities for: 1) local students to undertake accredited university programming; 2) local students to undertake post-secondary programming without leaving the North; 3) local students to undertake university programming that is relevant to their lives, interests and futures; 4) local students to experience living on and learning from the land; 5) local and non-local researchers to build their researching skills and undertake research in ways that are responsive to Northern and local needs and conditions; 6) employment opportunities for Northern, community and Indigenous instructors, leaders and elders in university research and learning; 7) partnerships between local, Northern and Indigenous stakeholders - including organizations, communities and academics - that support the development of post-secondary capacity in the North; and 8) the development of leadership skills, by students, that contribute to their personal development, their communities and the North more broadly. Because the current project is oriented to the development of future educational strategies and capacities, it aims to create these opportunities not only now, during its operations, but for the longer-term future of the NWT. In addition, the current research project itself employs mentors and builds the skills of Northern, NWT and Indigenous researchers wherever possible. The project team will share the results of this project by completing a public lecture on Northern University education in Yellowknife. The project team will also develop a publication of an evaluation report, and a publication of at least one paper on land-based pedagogy in an academic journal. The project team will support and contribute to Dechinta's ongoing community outreach, activities and communications. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 14, 2013 to December 31, 2013.