NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: community based monitoring, ecological monitoring, research communication, ecological survey

Objective(s): To assess the processes used by the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op (ABEKC) to communicate within and beyond its members; to assess the contributions of the ABEKC in terms of building capacity, bonds and common learning amongst its participants: scientists, community monitors, board members, representatives from local organizations; and, to assess the contributions of the ABEKC in terms of improving the use of community based knowledge within management organizations.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to assess the processes used by the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op (ABEKC) to communicate within and beyond its members; to assess the contributions of the ABEKC in terms of building capacity, bonds and common learning amongst its participants: scientists, community monitors, board members, representatives from local organizations; and, to assess the contributions of the ABEKC in terms of improving the use of community based knowledge within management organizations. Co-op participants (past and present) will be invited to participate in an online and/or phone questionnaire that will ask questions regarding the above mentioned objectives. The ABEKC through its archives, have kept a list of all the persons who have acted as partners within its organization. The list of persons to whom the questionnaire will be sent will be decided based on past and present co-op reports. This questionnaire will be anonymous. The name and personal information of respondents will not be required and will not be associated with the answers. It will remain the decision of the person contacted whether or not to answer the questionnaire. Local involvement will primarily be focused on answering surveys to analyze the effectiveness and impacts of the ABEKC. Results will be shared with partners to learn and build on current business practices. The idea of the project is to investigate what are the potential positive outcomes of the ABEKC program besides collecting information. The project thus has the potential to bring forward positive aspects of the program that would have not been identified otherwise. Results will first be reviewed by the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op Board. Upon their approval, the principal Investigator (PI) will send results from the project to all participants of the study. The PI will also communicate the results at the annual Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op gathering (location to be confirmed) of 2014. The PI is also planning to communicate the findings through podcasts that will be played on local radios. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from September 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013.