Legislating Space: Cartographic technologies, geological data, indigenous land governance and the Mineral Resources Act of the Northwest Territories, Canada.
Principal Investigator: Becker, Matilda L (2)
Licence Number: 16444
Organization: University of Oxford
Licensed Year(s): 2019 2018
Issued: Dec 19, 2018

Objective(s): To examine how the burgeoning use of digital technologies (Online Map Staking) and data (Geological data sharing) might have a cumulative impact on people’s land-based legal rights.

Project Description: The goal of this project is to examine how the burgeoning use of digital technologies (Online Map Staking) and data (Geological data sharing) might have a cumulative impact on people’s land-based legal rights. This research is qualitative and will involve direct interaction with members of the scientific, indigenous, non-indigenous and government/non-governmental community based in Yellowknife. Specifically, the research will involve: The use of semi-structured interviews lasting a minimum of 45 minutes with representatives of: a. the Government of the Northwest Territories (including legislators, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and geologists); b. non-governmental organisations associated with the development of mineral extraction in the NWT, and non-governmental citizens’ advocate organisations, and non-governmental environmental groups; c. First Nations communities who are interested in the Mineral Resources Act, and/or those who have led digital mapping campaigns which used traditional knowledge; and, d. Co-management boards. Interviews will be carried out either in person or electronically (via Skype/telephone). Each interview will be recorded (audio or written) with the consent of the participant. Questions will focus on the participant’s opinions of digital map usage, and the impacts they perceive this may have on land-use planning and negotiations. The PI may re-interview participants or contact them with follow-up questions to ensure responses have been correctly understood, or to gain clarification on certain topics. These interviews will be carried out over a 3-9 month period, dependent on the time taken to arrange, conduct, and complete interviews. Opinions will be sought regarding the proposals in the Mineral Resources Act for Online Maps for Land Staking, and geological data sharing from exploration and mining activities. Therefore, local people representing a diversity of knowledge’s, (including but not restricted to co-management boards, government, industry, geologists, NGOs and community members), will be invited to be involved in the research through interviews and informal discussions. Whilst acknowledging that this research project will not provide immediate benefits to local communities, it will contribute to a discussion that has so far been narrow regarding the growing use of digital technologies, land-use management, and legislative structures. The Principal Investigator (PI) will be available to give presentations to organisations, groups, or individuals, who wish to hear about the research, both while conducting it, and once it has been completed. A short, succinct, and accessible report will be written at the end of the research and sent to any organisations or people who wish to receive it. The PI will send the summary report to all organisations/people who participated in the research as soon as data collection and data analysis have been carried out (likely, end 2019/beginning 2020). A full version of the doctoral thesis will be available for download from the Oxford University database. This is open-access, and documents can be downloaded from anywhere. The PI is open to recommendations from different stakeholders as to how this research could best be communicated to benefit them/their organisation. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 31, 2019 to July 31, 2019.