Compendium of Research in the Northwest Territories 2013 www.nwtresearch.com This publication is a collaboration between the Aurora Research Institute, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Thank you to all who submitted a summary of research or photographs, and helped make this publication possible. Editors: Ashley Mercer, Siku Allooloo, Jessica Dutton Copyright © 2014 ISSN: 1205-3910 Printed in Fort Smith through the Aurora Research Institute Foreword Welcome to the 2013 Compendium of Research in the Northwest Territories. This annual publication provides summaries of all the licensed research that has taken place in the Northwest Territories this past year. Every year I review this document, I am struck by the vibrant research community working across the NWT on some many topics that are important not only to understanding our region but phenomenon and changes nationally and globally. The NWT, as evidenced in this Compendium, is an important location for research. This Compendium series has been published since 1986. Each past Compendium is available at nwtresearch.com. As we continue to move into the digital era, ARI is including the contents of this publication, as well as all licensing data onto an online public database. The intent is to make this information both searchable and accessible to everyone. In additional the information contained in the summaries, this database is geo-referenced, which means it is possible to look for research happening in a specific site or area. This rich source of information about research in the NWT is available at http://data.nwtresearch.com/. We are excited to see this online database grow and become a source of information about research activities for all. In closing, as you look through this Compendium, I encourage you to contact the researchers if there is a project that interests you. The summaries in this publication are only a brief outline of the rich findings and scientific advancements that have been made over the past year. In many cases, more in-depth reports and publication are available. Pippa Seccombe-Hett Director, Aurora Research Institute iii Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................... v Aurora Research Institute ................................................................................................ viii The Department of Environment & Natural Resources .................................................... ix Department of Fisheries and Oceans ............................................................................... x Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre .......................................................................... xi 2103 Research Licences and Permits Biology ........................................................................................................................... 1 Contaminants ................................................................................................................ 8 Engineering ................................................................................................................. 17 Health ........................................................................................................................... 19 Physical Sciences ....................................................................................................... 27 Social Sciences ........................................................................................................... 67 Traditional Knowledge ................................................................................................ 85 Archaeology ................................................................................................................ 91 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 101 Fisheries Permits ...................................................................................................... 102 Glossary ..................................................................................................................... 103 Author Index .............................................................................................................. 109 Index ........................................................................................................................... 112 iv Introduction Introduction This compendium offers a summary of research licences/permits that were issued in the Northwest Territories during 2013. The information contained in this book is a product of a collaboration between the Aurora Research Institute (ARI), the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The Compendium series began in 1986. Licensing in the NWT Under territorial legislation, all research in the NWT requires a licence/permit from one of four agencies, depending on the type of research being conducted: • Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - Archaeology; • Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories - Wildlife; • Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Fisheries; or • Aurora Research Institute - all other research in the NWT. Through the licensing process, researchers are informed of appropriate organizations, communities and other licensing/permitting agencies that should be contacted prior to conducting studies. Licensing ensures research activities are communicated to interested parties and provides opportunities for the exchange of information. The Compendium provides a summary of all licences/permits issued in the NWT by all four licensing/permitting bodies. As each research project is represented by a short abstract, the reader is encouraged to contact the researcher for additional information and results. v Introduction How to Use This Book This book has four main sections. Each of these sections reflects a specific licensing agency and type of licence/permit issued. Within each section, research descriptions have been grouped by subject and listed alphanumerically by the principal researcher’s last name. Refer to the Table of Contents for the specific page on which each section and/or subject begins. An index is included at the end of the compendium listing all researchers in each section. 1. File Number The file numbers shown in each of the Aurora Research Institute’s subject areas refer to the file number issued to a particular researcher. It allows cross referencing with research material that may be available on file or in the ARI library. The reference numbers of the other three agencies refer directly to the permit numbers given to each researcher. When requesting information from any of these agencies on specific research outlined in the compendium, please refer to the reference number in your correspondence. 2. Regional Abbreviations Throughout the book, reference is given to the specific land claim region(s) in which the research took place. The regions are shown on the following page. Some of the land claim regions are still under negotiation and the boundaries shown are only approximations. The abbreviations shown for each region are as follows: DC Deh Cho SS South Slave NS North Slave SA Sahtú Settlement Area IN Inuvialuit Settlement GW Gwich’in Settlement Area Region 3. Glossary A glossary of terms has been added to the Compendium. The intent of the glossary is to allow the reader to better appreciate the research descriptions. Available in Print or Free Download This compendium is available as a printed publication or can be downloaded from the Aurora Research Institute’s website (www.nwtresearch.com). Copies can also be requested by contacting the Aurora Research Institute. Send Us Your Comments Whether you are a researcher or an interested member of the public, the Aurora Research Institute welcomes your comments and suggestions concerning this publication. Contact us by mail, fax, email or telephone (see address on page vi). vi Introduction Figure 1. Land claim regions in the Northwest Territories vii NWT Institutions Aurora Research Institute The Aurora Research Institute’s mandate is to improve the quality of life for NWT residents by applying scientific, technological and indigenous knowledge to solve northern problems and advance social and economic goals. ARI is responsible for: • licencing and coordinating research in accordance with the NWT Scientists Act: this covers all disciplines including the physical, social, biological sciences and traditional knowledge; • promoting communication between researchers and the people of the communities in which they work; • promoting public awareness of the importance of science, technology and indigenous knowledge; • fostering a scientific community within the NWT which recognizes and uses the traditional knowledge of northern aboriginal people; • making scientific and indigenous knowledge available to the people of the NWT; • supporting or conducting research and technological developments which contribute to the social, cultural and economic prosperity of the people of the NWT. For more information, contact ARI at: Aurora Research Institute PO Box 1450 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Tel: (867) 777-3298 Fax: (867) 777-4264 E-mail: [email protected] Website:www.nwtresearch.com viii