NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: social sciences, economic development, tourism, environmental stewardship

Objective(s): The research aims to identify and develop strategies for SKFN to pursue economic development linked to their environmental stewardship and monitoring activities. While various possibilities may be explored through the research partnership, the research will focus on developing plans to leverage tourism to support the work of SKFN’s Dehcho Guardians.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5025. The research aims to identify and develop strategies for Sambaa K’e First Nation (SKFN) to pursue economic development linked to their environmental stewardship and monitoring activities. While various possibilities may be explored through the research partnership, the research will focus on developing plans to leverage tourism to support the work of SKFN’s Dehcho Guardians. Broadly speaking, the research team will be conducting participatory action research, which means collaborating with the community to advance towards its goals. However, data collection at this stage of the project will come exclusively through interviews. If COVID-19 health regulations permit, the team will later seek ethics approval from Wilfrid Laurier University to expand data collection to focus groups and workshops. But at this time, we seek a license for the interview portion of the methodology as this is the only kind of data collection that COVID-19 conditions permit. Interviews will be conducted with staff, leadership, knowledge holders and youth in the community. They will be between 30-120 minutes in length. A translator will be present, where necessary, for those who wish to be interviewed in Dene Zhatié. The interviews will be conducted primarily by Ryan Planche, the graduate student researcher, but Alex Latta (the PI) or Miguel Sioui (the Co-PI) may also participate in data collection. Interviews will be recorded digitally. Recordings made during the research will be transcribed in part or in whole, with translation from Dene Zhatié into English as necessary. If they wish, participants will receive a transcript of their interviews for verification. Regular communication with SKFN leadership, including in-person meetings, has already taken place to ensure the research is aligned with community priorities and protocols. This will continue during the remainder of the research process. Further, extended time spent in the community (4-6 weeks) will ensure that strong and trusting relationships are built, based on in-person collaboration. Primary communication and planning has been and will continue to be conducted with the environment coordinator in Sambaa K'e, with occasional communication also with the Band Manager. The researchers will also meet with Chief and Council while in Sambaa K’e to share progress on the research with them. The research findings will be shared in a report for community leadership, with a short summary, potentially in poster format, also made available for community members. The team will take further direction from our SKFN counterparts to ensure that community-facing communication throughout the project is effective. Any scholarly outputs from the research will only be undertaken with the approval of our community counterparts, and plain-language summaries of such outputs will be made available to SKFN staff and leadership. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 30, 2021 to December 31, 2021.