Regions: North Slave Region
| Principal Investigator: | Holton, Gary (4) |
| Licence Number: | 15758 |
| Organization: | University of Alaska, Fairbanks |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2015
|
| Issued: | Sep 17, 2015 |
| Project Team: | Chris Cannon, Gary Holton |
Objective(s): To document Yellowknife’s Dene astronomy and sky-related knowledge.
Project Description: The research objective is to document Yellowknife’s Dene astronomy and sky-related knowledge. Results will appear in the researcher’s Ph.D. dissertation on Northern Dene astronomy and may be published in a book on the same topic at a later date. Educational materials (such as a Wii`lii`deh and Tetso?´t’ine´ star chart) will also be produced for participating communities. The researcher will primarily utilize informal interviews and participant observation methods. The research team anticipate working with just a few traditional knowledge experts in Dettah and Ndilo. Interviews and participant observation will be ongoing throughout the duration of the fieldwork, which is expected to span one week in November 2015. Interviews will be open-ended by design to allow the consultants to communicate their knowledge of the sky in a manner that suits their teaching styles. The research team will also attempt to make direct observations of the night sky during the evenings at a location away from street and house lights. The Yellowknife’s Dene First Nation has generously agreed to assist with participant recruitment. All interviews will be recorder on a digital solid state recorder (Marantz PMD661MKII) in WAV format. The researcher will also record handwritten field notes and take photographs with the consent of the consultants. The research team will include local youth from Dettah and Ndilo to come out with the research team at night and learn about the stars, or sit in and listen to interviews. The researcher has agreed to produce a Wii`lii`deh and Tetso?´t’ine´ star chart or other Yellowknife’s Dene astronomy related materials useful for educational purposes. Digital copies of the researchers dissertation and any other related publications will be given to the Yellowknife’s Dene First Nation and the Goyatiko?` Language Centre. Educational materials will be written in English and in the local Dene languages. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from November 1, 2015 to November 21, 2015.
