NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: social sciences, traditional knowledge, socio-cultural, sewing

Objective(s): To examine the importance of sewing for Inuit women and the contribution that they make to household and community through sewing.

Project Description: The aim of this research is to examine the importance of sewing for Inuit women and the contribution that they make to household and community through sewing. Specific objectives are to describe the importance of sewing for Inuit women; to identify the contributions that Inuit women make to household and community through sewing; and, to compare findings from objectives 1 and 2 among respondents. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with elders, sewers, program coordinators, and educators. Interviews are expected to be approximately 30 minutes long. Interviews will be conducted by a local Inuit researcher and a university researcher. Interviewers will be conducted with approximately 30 women, 18 years of age and older, from different age groups (18-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+). Interview questions will focus on obtaining an understanding of the importance of sewing to women in the past, the transformation of these activities in the move to settlement, and the importance of sewing today. Interviews are designed to be conversational, with open-ended questions to allow participants to share using their own words in their own way. Interviews will be conducted in English and/or Inuinnaqtun based on the participant’s preference. This research is part of Nunamin Illihakvia: Learning from the Land administered by the Ulukhaktok Community Corporation (UCC). There are several opportunities for local involvement in the research, which is expected to have social, cultural, educational and economic benefits in the community. This research will highlight the importance of sewing for Inuit women and the sharing of sewing skills and knowledge among generations. This research will also bring together Elder sewers with younger generations to talk about sewing and share knowledge. For this research, the following local people will assist: local research partner, Inuinnaqtun interpreter, youth researcher and Inuit women participants. The results of the study will be communicated to people in Ulukhaktok and elsewhere in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region using a variety of communication tools that will be agreed upon with research partners in Ulukhaktok. These may include: community presentations; sharing on the local and regional radio; articles in northern magazines like Tusaayaksat; photo-book that documents the project findings – a copy will be given to each household in Ulukhaktok and made available online; and short videos. Importantly, all results sharing materials will be developed together with research partners in Ulukhaktok. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from December 8, 2018 to December 31, 2018.