NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, aboriginal community, social services, family

Objective(s): To understand the significance, values and beliefs regarding relationships and relationship building in an Aboriginal community, and to develop a potential process of how social workers working in Aboriginal communities might build these types of relationships with families and communities.

Project Description: The objective of this research project is to understand the significance, values and beliefs regarding relationships and relationship building in an Aboriginal community. The principal investigator wants to develop a potential process of how social workers working in Aboriginal communities might build these types of relationships with families and communities. Sample: Aboriginal social work students currently enrolled at Aurora College in Yellowknife. Recruitment: The principal investigator will conduct a presentation to all social work students regarding the research and hand out recruitment flyers to all students prior to this presentation, via Sandy Little Aurora College in Yellowknife. Students will be provided with the researchers contact information should they wish to participate. Data Collection: Using critical ethnography, a qualitative method of inquiry, the principal investigator will conduct individual interviews. Data Coding: Data will be coded in to large general themes, from there more detailed themes will begin to emerge. Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed to identify common themes that appear to be important to the participants. Data analysis is supported through the use of post colonialism and Anti-Colonialism, and the goal of conducting decolonizing research that challenges power in the context of the research topic. The research process, limitations and the feelings of the research will also be analyzed. Dissemination: This research is a requirement for the Masters of Social Work program at Ryerson University, the principal investigator will submit the large document to the Ryerson University. A small report and provide this to relevant community organizations, such as Yellowknife Health and Social Services and Aurora College. A report will also be submitted to the Canadian Polar Commission as a requirement to travel funding. The research project will use qualitative research methods, community involvement will include participation in qualitative interviews. The sample will consist of Aboriginal students in the school of social work at Aurora College in Yellowknife. Students will have the opportunity to share thoughts, opinions, feelings and knowledge related to relationship building in a child welfare context. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from April 3, 2014 to April 15, 2014.