NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, North Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, socio-economics, socio-cultural, protected area

Objective(s): To identify the hopes and concerns about vessel activities for the Beaufort Sea Region, and to record suggestions from people in the region for managing future vessel activities.

Project Description: A trip will be made to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories to conduct meetings and semi-structured interviews with representatives in the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC), the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, and regional offices of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Departments of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE); Protected Areas Strategy (PAS); Environment and Natural Resources (ENR); Lands; and Transportation. The PI will then travel to Yellowknife to conduct meetings and semi-structured interviews with representatives of the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation, and the GNWT Departments of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations; ECE; ENR; Health and Social Services; Human Resources; Industry, Tourism and Investment; Lands; and Transportation. This research intends to examine socio-cultural, environmental, economic, and governance perspectives through the targeted organizations and agencies. A minimum of 3 organizations or departments is required to address questions on each of these distinct perspectives in order to generate a thorough report. For example, interviews with three or more Inuvialuit organizations would be required to draw robust conclusions about the regional perspective towards vessel traffic and the environmental changes that will permit activities to increase. One representative from each department or organization is required. Handwritten notes will be taken during the interviews by the PI; no audio or video recording will be done. Recruitment for representatives from the groups will be done through phone, e-mail or fax. All recruitment will be done by the PI, though members of the research team will assist with making contact with people. DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS: Interviews: Task 1: The PI will welcome and thank the individual for participating. At this point oral or written consent will be given. Task 2: The interview will be conducted. Task 3: The PI will read over the responses of the interview with the participant to ensure notes were taken accurately. Task 4: Contact information will be shared between the PI and participant, if desired. The individual will be thanked for participating. The way that results will be shared back to participants depends, in part, on the interview responses to the question: “Do you have any suggestions for sharing the information you have, or for ways you could better obtain information?” Expected responses include written reports, webinars or video conferences, or video or audio recordings of the PI presenting the results. Regardless of any extra methods, a manuscript(s) will be written for publication in a scientific journal(s), which will be sent to each participant by mail and e-mail. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from September 12, 2014 to December 31, 2014.