NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, food security, participatory research

Objective(s): To assess the influence of local climatic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors upon gardening success in Aklavik.

Project Description: Aklavik Community Garden Research Project goals are to: 1. gather data throughout the summer gardening season to: a. assess the influence of local climatic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors upon gardening success; b. develop locally-sustainable gardening techniques; and, c. assess the degree to which having affordable garden-raised foods available plus healthy cooking workshops may influence participants to increase their daily vegetable consumption; and, 2. develop local research capacity by providing hands-on training at every step in the research and workshop process, including development of final written materials. This proposed project would use a Community-Based-Participatory-Research (CBPR) methodology in which the research goals, data collection and analysis methods, and ways of reporting of final results will be decided in collaboration between the research team and research participants, as well as through communication with local stakeholders. Gardening methods Gardening methods will incorporate local knowledge with information available in the literature and online about successful gardens in other Arctic communities in Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia. Dr. Carraher is also an experienced gardener from Alaska. The research team will grow a variety of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Workshop methods Workshops will be facilitated by the research team, but structured in a participatory way that allows participants to share their knowledge and take turns leading some activities. The exact location, days, and times of the workshops will be decided in consultation with the research assistants and community stakeholders to make these fit as best they can in people’s schedules. All workshops will be open the public and free for participants. Data collection and analysis Participant observation – The research team will keep journals recording their daily involvement in working in the garden and managing workshops and will discuss their observations during weekly planning meetings. The research team will also monitor the amount and quality of products produced in the garden throughout the season. Interviews and surveys – Interviews will explore respondents’ personal experiences during the summer gardening season. And surveys may be used to assess things like individuals’ level of participation in Garden and Workshop activities throughout the summer, their household vegetable consumption over the summer, and their knowledge of basic nutrition information at the end of the summer. Photo-voice – Photo-voice is a method that allows research participants to choose what information is documented and expressed in research about themselves. Photos and videos will be collected from participants and discussed at the final workshop of the season. The research team consists of two research assistants from the community, helping to build local research capacity and job skills. The project itself take a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, which works with community members to plan each phase of the project and to help compile the information and photos that will be use in future publications. The research team aim to combine modern gardening techniques with traditional techniques of harvesting plant foods and encourage celebration of traditional foods combined with incorporating more fresh vegetable and berry consumption in local diets. Results of research will shared in multiple ways: an end of season community feast, printed garden manuals developed using our workshops and photo voice project, sending printed copies of all reports or publications back to the community, and online through social media. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 24, 2015 to August 8, 2015.