NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, Inuit women, criminal justice system, gender-based violence

Objective(s): To study the criminal justice system response to gender-based violence in three regions of Inuit Nunangat—Inuvialuit, Nunavut, and Nunavik—in order to increase awareness and understanding of the needs, challenges, and service gaps that face Inuit women.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5145. Pauktuutit is conducting a research project to study the criminal justice system response to gender-based violence in three regions of Inuit Nunangat—Inuvialuit, Nunavut, and Nunavik—in order to increase awareness and understanding of the needs, challenges, and service gaps that face Inuit women. The primary research question is: How can the criminal justice system be made more responsive to the needs of Inuit women who experience gender-based violence? The goal is to advance effective criminal justice strategies to alleviate gender-based violence and prevent re-victimization, with a focus on the needs and safety of Inuit women. Two forms of data collection for the study were completed in 2021: 1. A quantitative online survey to measure Inuit women’s understanding of and experiences with the criminal justice system and how they feel about their safety, legal rights, and access to justice; and 2. Qualitative interviews (conducted on-line or by phone) with 10 criminal justice actors and service providers whose work brings them into close contact with the criminal justice system in Inuvialuit. This research license application pertains to a third method of data collection: Qualitative interviews with Inuit women with lived experience of gender-based violence and the criminal justice response. On the recommendation of the Project Advisory Committee, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok were initially selected as the Inuvialuit sites of the research. An Inuk woman was trained to conduct these interviews. However, due to COVID travel restrictions, she has been unable to travel to the communities from Inuvik (where she lives). As such, the site for the Inuvialuit portion of the study has been re-located to Inuvik. This final portion of the study, therefore, will involve one-on-one interviews with 10 to 12 Inuit women who have lived experience of gender-based violence and the criminal justice response. Participants will be asked about any experiences of physical or sexual violence they have had, what they needed to keep themselves safe and supported, and whether the criminal justice system assisted in meeting their needs. They will also be asked about what they think should be done to improve the role of the criminal justice system so that Inuit women can live free from gender-based violence. To recruit participants, Pauktuutit will work with local partners and stakeholders to advertise the project through several channels (posters, radio, and social media). Interviews with participants will take place at a safe and secure location (i.e. the local women’s shelter). Participants will be provided with a consent form in order to ensure their free, prior, and informed consent. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study (including the treatment of documents and in the final report). Pauktuutit has over 35 years of experience conducting interviews and needs assessments and developing prevention and awareness campaigns and knowledge exchange across Inuit Nunangat. To this end, Pauktuutit ensures that differing socio-economic and regional circumstances of Inuit are captured and incorporated during program and project development through building community networks and advisory bodies that embrace broad and comprehensive Inuit input and expertise. The resulting initiatives are guided by Inuit women, ensuring the initiatives successfully meet their needs and those of their families and communities. For this project, a Project Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from each of the three regions of Inuit Nunangat has been formed. In addition to providing ongoing guidance as the project proceeds, the Project Advisory Committee members will be asked to provide feedback on the study’s draft report, including whether their region is well-represented. The qualitative interviews with Inuit women will form the basis of a report highlighting key issues, recommendations, and promising practices to improve criminal justice responses to gender-based violence to meet the needs of Inuit women. The report will be disseminated to key stakeholders and made available on Pautkuutit’s website. Interview participants who wish to receive a copy of the report will be asked to initial the Consent Form and provide their contact information. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 11, 2022 to December 31, 2022.