The Changing Role of Agriculture in Subarctic Food Systems
Principal Investigator: Price, Mindy Jewell (3)
Licence Number: 16916
Organization: University of California - Berkeley
Licensed Year(s): 2021
Issued: Nov 10, 2021

Objective(s): To conduct archival research and interviews on of the history of agriculture in several communities in the NWT; to understand the social, political, and economic implications of increased agriculture development in the region; to support individuals and communities in gardening and agriculture; to understand how legal and social relations to land affect agriculture in communities; to support Sambaa K'e First Nation and the Town of Hay River in increasing youth understanding and engagement in food security projects; to support Sambaa K'e First Nation and Hay RIver in updating their Agriculture Strategy using Dene values and Traditional Knowledge.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4922. The objective of this project is to conduct archival research and interviews on of the history of agriculture in several communities in the NWT; to understand the social, political, and economic implications of increased agriculture development in the region; to support individuals and communities in gardening and agriculture; to understand how legal and social relations to land affect agriculture in communities; to support Sambaa K'e First Nation in increasing youth understanding and engagement in food security projects; to support Sambaa K'e First Nation in updating their Agriculture Strategy using Dene values and Traditional Knowledge. The research team will conduct archival research at the Prince of Wales (not human subjects research), build collaborative relationships with community members in Sambaa K'e and Hay River. The team will conduct ethnographic research with farmers and home gardeners in Hay River, NWT (this includes farmers and agriculture NGOS/leaders in the Hay River corridor only). Ethnographic research will also be conducted with Sambaa Ke First Nation, to support gardening projects and update of Agriculture Strategy. The team will continue to build collaborative relationships with individuals and communities in the NWT and explore possibilities for expanding interviews and discussions in other regions of the NWT, through community-led and participatory processes. This project was developed in collaboration with individuals and communities engaged in agriculture in the NWT, including farmers, home gardeners, Indigenous communities, and agriculture organizations. Through community-based Northern Agriculture Futures research with Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation and Sambaa Ke First Nation, which the Principal Investigator (PI) is supporting as a graduate research student, the research has worked to be community-led, collaborative, and transparent throughout research development and implementation. In August 2021, the PI met with Sambaa K'e First Nation to clarify and direct research direction and project goals. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from November 10, 2021 to December 31, 2022.