NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region, South Slave Region

Tags: climate change, forest fire, forest fire management, climate adaptation, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous protected and conserved areas, Indigenous self-determination, bore

Objective(s): This research project will collect data on the socio-political and economic impact of the 2023 wildfires with specific focus on Yellowknife and Hay River. Data will be collected through interviews with both government workers as well as Indigenous nations. These data will be included and compared to archival and published information on previous boreal forest fire seasons. Finally, important to this research is the perspective from Indigenous communities in Yellowknife and Hay River regarding the impact of wildfires and wildfire policy on their cultural practices and values.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 6053. The 2023 wildfire season in the Great Slave Lake region was the worst on record for the Northwest Territories. This research project will collect data on the socio-political and economic impact of the 2023 wildfires with specific focus on Yellowknife and Hay River. These two communities were displaced during the 2023 season. Data will be collected through interviews with both government workers as well as Inidgenous nations. These data will be included and compared to already existing archival and published information on previous boreal forest fire seasons in order to understand if the threat and impact of wildfires in increasing in the Great Slave region, and to address whether forest management policies are being adapted to these climatic shifts. Finally, important to this research is the perspective from Indigenous communities in the nations of Yellowknife and Hay River regarding the impact of wildfires and wildfire policy on their cultural practices and values in the past, present, and future. To date, very little research has been conducted on wildfires with communities and this study will contribute to that knowledge base. 1.Archival research:Preliminary archival research was started in Yellowknife at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in May 2024. Archival research is also taking place at the National Library and Archives in Ottawa, Ontario. 2.Structured interviews with government workers In Yellowknife. See attached list of sample questions. 3.Semi-structured interviews with Council members in Hay River and in Yellowknife. In the event of other community involvement, I will notify the GNWT research license board. 4.Semi-structured interviews with community members following discussions and approvals from Council Members. This is important for addressing any questions and concerns, following K’athl’oddeche and Gwich’in Nations’ protocols, to ensure the safety of community members who agree to participate. 5.There is a possibility of focus groups. However, this will only occur upon discussion and approval with Council members. Early stage: 1) Preliminary contact has been made with Mr. Peter Redvers, Director of Lands, Resources, and Negotiations of the K’athl’odeeche First Nation. (see attached email correspondence). Mr. Redevrs has put me in contact with Ms. Claudia Azigwe (Environmental Program Manager) and Mr. Robert Lafleur (Lands Director) at the K’atl’odeeche First Nation. 2) Preliminary contact and discussion occurred in May 2024 with Devlin Fernandez who is the executive Director at the Gwich’in Council International in Yellowknife. 3)Preliminary discussions have taken place by email and over Zoom with Bridget Larocque of the Arctic Athabaskan Council. 4)Introductory email has been sent to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (council based in Yellowknife). See attached email PDF. 5) Introductory email has been sent to the West Point First Nation in Hay River. See attached email PDF. Communication and travel: I intend to visit Yellowknife (if approved) in October to continue early discussions about this research project with government employees and Council representatives. I also intend to go to Hay River, however no date is set yet and will be updated upon further discussion with the K’atl’odeeche nation. Additional communication trips will be planned upon further discussion and approval with the West Point First Nation and Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Communication and fulfillment of OCAP: Throughout the research program (initial contact and discussion, interviews, data analysis, and research dissemination), I will be in continuous communication with the Dene Councils and with community participants to ensure that confidentiality is maintained and that this project continues to adhere to cultural ethics and protocol. This aligns with OCAP’s requirements: a)Ownership: Throughout this project, it is acknowledged that all information shared by Dene members of the Gwich'in International Council, K’atl’odeeche Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and West Point First Nation is their cultural and intellectual property. Cultural knowledge that is being shared will be protected. Review of cultural knowledge will be respected by the researcher. b)Control: Dene community engagement will be critical throughout this project. All elements of this project involving Dene peoples (individual and focus group participation, planning, and information review) will be guided by Dene knowledge, practices, and regulations. c)Access: Both the Gwich'in International Council, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and West Point First Nation will have continues access to any information and data regarding their communities, this includes archival, interview (structured and semi-structured) and focus group recordings, notes, and final reports. These resources will be shared with both nations, and all information will be approved by each nation and individual participants. d)Possession: This project recognizes that all Indigenous knowledge shared by participants belongs to each individual, as well as nation. All information including identifying material and narrative will be protected, and guided by Dene protocol. Final reports will be shared with both the Gwich'in Council, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and West Point First Nation. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: December 10 - December 31, 2024