NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, food security, community greehouse

Objective(s): To understand the success of the Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk greenhouses.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5266. This objective of this research is to understand the success of the Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk greenhouses. Who grows their own food and how does it impact the community? In Inuvik the Principal Investigator (PI) is interested in how the greenhouse has operated and adapted the business model to continue to function and provide local food during COVID. Who is growing food in the greenhouse, has that changed over the 20+ years the greenhouse as operated? What types of crops are they growing? Is there a sense of community within the greenhouse? Do those that grow food share their excess with others in the greenhouse or with family members and food banks? Who in the community benefits from the greenhouse? In Tuktoyaktuk the PI is interested in who is growing food in the greenhouse and what are they growing? Do they share the excess food with family members? How does the greenhouse impact food security in the community? Does it build a sense of community for those that grow food? Why do the community members grow their own food? The research will employ the use of both qualitative and quantitative data resulting in a mixed methods framework. This growing pillar of research in social sciences allows the research to highlight the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods together for an analysis that best suits the Indigenous Research Paradigm. This interdisciplinary approach to science represents a transformative trend where transparency in methods is assured, and the communication between parties is open and trusted. There are similarities to both qualitative and quantitative models that both use empirical observations to address research problems. Additionally, both methods describe their data, and build cases to describe the observed results. The research is based on semi-directed interviews with stakeholders at the greenhouses/community gardens. The questions are designed without bias and should not lead the interviewee to believe there is an intended answer. The questions are intended to start a conversation and learn about the operation of the greenhouse and how it impacts the community. The principal investigator will also have questions for Community members using the greenhouse. The participants will be asked if they are willing to supply their first name and a contact number or email. This would be used if an answer needs clarification. The notes will be handwritten and transcribed to my computer. The PI will complete a comparative analysis between the two successful greenhouses and the two that only operated one season noting the similarities/difference in community engagement, sharing of harvest, cost of the greenhouses, methods used to grow crops, and business models they operate under. The questions that can be transformed to quantitative analysis like the crops grown , who the food is shared with will be coded and analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) to determine the most frequently grown crops and the least grown and the most common people food is shared with. The reports will be provided to each greenhouse management team and stakeholders for review. When the final reports are authorized by all parties it will be made available to be distributed to all who are interested. The Pi will arrange a Zoom/Skype/Teams event to discuss the findings in each community. The PI will provide the information to the greenhouse teams and the Hamlet’s to post for all community members to attend. A list of questions potential questions for the greenhouse manager/Director of Operations and the community members who use the greenhouse will be sent via email to the contacts at each greenhouse and appropriate people at the Hamlet office at least 21 days prior to planned travel dates. The PI will amend, add, or remove any questions as requested and resend the adjusted potential question list. When the PI arrive in each community, the PI will attend the Hamlet office to ensure that they are aware of my visit. The PI will check in with a contact person each day to ensure to answer all questions that may arise. Within 60 days the PI will email all the respective parties a preliminary report for each greenhouse. When the final reports are authorized by all parties it will be made available in the form of a PDF to be distributed to all who are interested. I will arrange a Zoom / Skype/ Teams event to discuss the findings in each community. I will provide the information to the greenhouse teams and the Hamlet’s to post for all community members to attend. The PI will inform all parties of all publications the include any of the data and analysis conducted in all communities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 4, 2022 to July 15, 2022