NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: community based monitoring, Inuvialuit, harvester survey

Objective(s): 1. options for elements of the Harvest Study that reflect both scientific best practice and community-specific needs and priorities, including: timing of the survey, how to record observations on the health of animals and the land, observations of pressures and stresses on harvest activities, and incentives and compensation levels for harvesters to participate and send in their data; and, 2. Master's thesis for the student conducting the work based upon analysis of harvester perceptions of the survey elements and on the compensation/incentive options.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5673. The objectives of this study are: 1. options for elements of the Harvest Study that reflect both scientific best practice and community-specific needs and priorities, including timing of the survey, how to record observations on the health of animals and the land, observations of pressures and stresses on harvest activities, and incentives and compensation levels for harvesters to participate and send in their data. The Inuvialuit Game Council and the 6 Hunters and Trappers Committee will have the final decision on which options to choose to use in the Inuvialuit Harvest Study; and, 2. Master's thesis for the student conducting the work based upon analysis of harvester perceptions of the survey elements and on the compensation/incentive options. The research team must clarify the central vision and knowledge needs associated with the harvest study (e.g., what kind of data do different committees, councils and others need and why). The research team has already started participatory design by taking direction from the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat (IJS) and Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC) and building on the work that they have already started to re-launch the Harvest Study. The research team met with the Inuvialuit Game Council and the Wildlife Management Advisory Council to inform them about the project and to get their initial opinions and recommendations. The IJS also shared internal documents that started the redesign process (Firelight report) as well as places where harvest data was used, such as in the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Environmental Impact Statement, and other monitoring programs like the Imaryuk Monitors. The research team will develop 3-4 options/examples of what a harvest study might look like (e.g., examples of surveys). From the research team’s meetings and conversations with community members, there are 3 specific challenges that need to be addressed in the new design of the harvest study: interview fatigue, meaningful incentives for participation, and a user-friendly set-up. The research team was also told that the survey should reflect the unique needs and concerns of each community, and not just be a cookie-cutter standard survey. Based on these directions, the survey components will be developed with one baseline section to be consistent across the entire region and other optional components tailored to community preferences and to incorporate local knowledge. The PI will be creating a web form to be distributed to all HTC members who are interested in having a say in the development of the survey questions and to select incentives for taking part in the Harvest Study. The design survey is completely voluntary, and people may choose to opt-out at any time in the process. The design survey will present examples of questions and ask if they are understandable and appropriate. Once the draft has been confirmed, the research team will begin sending promotional material to invite people to take the design survey. The responses will be analyzed to find the top choices for survey questions and response incentives as well as any other comments participants have shared. This feedback will ensure that the efforts for the long-term viability and engagement with the Harvest Study are supported by preferences of the people involved. The Harvest Study elements will be put together following the responses to the design survey. The options for the final design will be made to present back to the Game Council to see if any final edits are needed. Once survey options have been written, the PI will be working on finding either an existing program or a purpose-built program to best deliver the Harvest Survey. The team has heard that most people would prefer a way to enable Inuvialuit researchers to collect data digitally on a smartphone, but still allow people to do either their own data entry on their phone or on paper in an in-person interview. The computer program would also enable the IJS or others to do some instant interpretation of the data. The PI will also put together a user guide with useful information from the development process to allow Inuvialuit researchers to facilitate training on implementing the program and adapt it as they use it in the future. The project’s main point of contact will be the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat (IJS) Committee Program Manager. Regular updates on the progression of the project will be sent in a newsletter format via email to the Resource Persons of the Hunters and Trappers Committee to pass along to their Board members. For critical developments, the team will apply to be on the agendas of the meeting of HTC and other joint management boards. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: June 26 - December 31, 2023