NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: physical sciences, food security, agriculture, economic development, indigenous communities

Objective(s): To conduct archival research and interviews on of the history of agriculture in the 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 Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in increasing youth understanding and engagement in food sovereignty projects.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5638. To conduct archival research and interviews on of the history of agriculture in the 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 Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in increasing youth understanding and engagement in food sovereignty projects. Early phases of this research involved participant-observation and interviews in 2021 in the three communities under research license #16916. The proposed next phase of the research is to report back preliminary results to all three communities in June 2023 from the previous field season and elicit feedback from community members. We may also conduct follow up interviews with participants about any changing perspective over the last two years. 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 Dr. Andrew Spring's community-based Northern Agriculture Futures research with Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation and Sambaa Ke First Nation, which Mindy supported as a graduate research student in 2021, the research has worked to be community-led, collaborative, and transparent throughout research development and implementation. In August 2021, Mindy met with Sambaa K'e First Nation to clarify and direct research direction and project goals, and in December 2022, Mindy met with Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation to discuss the project goals and conduct preliminary conversations. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.