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Community Experiences of Mining in Baker Lake, Nunavut

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Community Experiences of Mining in Baker Lake, Nunavut Community Experiences of Mining in Baker Lake, Nunavut by Kelsey Peterson A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography Guelph, Ontario, Canada ©Kelsey Peterson, April, 2012 ABSTRACT COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES OF MINING IN BAKER LAKE, NUNAVUT Kelsey Peterson Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Professor Ben Bradshaw With recent increases in mineral prices, the Canadian Arctic has experienced a dramatic upswing in mining development. With the development of the Meadowbank gold mine, the nearby Hamlet of Baker Lake, Nunavut is experiencing these changes firsthand. In response to an invitation from the Hamlet of Baker Lake, this research document residents’ experiences with the Meadowbank mine. These experiences are not felt homogeneously across the community; indeed, residents’ experiences with mining have been mixed. Beyond this core finding, the research suggests four further notable insights: employment has provided the opportunity for people to elevate themselves out of welfare/social assistance; education has become more common, but some students are leaving high school to pursue mine work; and local businesses are benefiting from mining contracts, but this is limited to those companies pre-existing the mine. Finally, varied individual experiences are in part generated by an individual’s context including personal context and choices. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the support and assistance of several key people. My advisor, Ben Bradshaw, has been instrumental in all stages of pre- research, research and writing. From accepting me to the program and connecting me to Baker Lake to funding my research and reading innumerable drafts of the written thesis, Professor Bradshaw has been critical to this research project. I am extremely grateful for his faith in me, faith in the importance of this research and insightful suggestions for improvement. My co-advisor, Ed Hedican, has also provided me with insightful edits and comments, bringing an anthropological perspective to this thesis that it would have lacked otherwise. I also want to acknowledge the partnership and collaboration of the people of Baker Lake. Without the support of the Hamlet Council and Mayor, I would not have been able to conduct this research in the first place. Without the welcoming, friendly people of Baker Lake, I would not have been able to conduct the interviews that I did. I hope that the information gathered will help the people of Baker Lake as they move forward with the development and improvement of their community. I have to thank the Department of Geography for fostering such a positive atmosphere of collegiality and support during my time here. Without the teachings of Alice Hovorka, Wanhong Yang and Ben Bradshaw, the ongoing, almost daily assistance of Nance Grieve, Pam Drewlo and Carol Hart, and the constructive distractions and support of my fellow graduate students, I would have lost my mind well before finishing this thesis. To everyone, thank you. The support of my friends and family has been instrumental for me throughout this process. Thank you for your genuine interest in my research and all feedback I received. I am truly lucky to have such a great family, group of friends and partner. Finally, I have to recognize the efforts of NorthwesTel, the telecommunications provider in Baker Lake. The installation of cell service between my August 2010 and May-July 2011 visits was a phenomenal surprise. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... iv-v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ v 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................1 1.1. The Research Problem .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Research Aim and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 7 1.3. Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................................. 8 2. SCHOLARLY CONTEXT ...................................................................................................................9 2.1. Mining and Remote Communities ................................................................................................ 10 2.2. Aboriginal Community Change with Development in Canada ..................................................... 17 2.3. Social Determinants of Health ...................................................................................................... 21 2.4. Summary and Conceptual Model ................................................................................................ 24 3. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY SITE ............................................................................................. 29 3.1. Nunavut ........................................................................................................................................ 29 3.2. Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) ..................................................................................... 30 3.3. Mining Development in the Canadian North................................................................................ 31 3.4. Baker Lake ..................................................................................................................................... 33 3.5. Mining around Baker Lake ............................................................................................................ 40 3.6. Socio-Economic Monitoring Committee Indicators ..................................................................... 41 3.6.1. Employment ............................................................................................................... 43 3.6.1.1. Income ............................................................................................................... 46 3.6.2. Small Business ............................................................................................................... 46 3.6.3. Formal Education ............................................................................................................... 47 3.6.4. Social Determinants of Health .............................................................................................. 48 3.6.4.1. Population ........................................................................................................... 48 3.6.4.2. Crime ............................................................................................................... 49 3.6.4.3. Land, Language and Youth .................................................................................. 49 3.6.4.4. Self-Control/Empowerment................................................................................ 50 3.6.5. Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 51 3.7. Chapter Summary ......................................................................................................................... 52 4. RESEARCH METHODS ................................................................................................................. 54 4.1. Research Aim and Objectives ...................................................................................................... 54 4.2. Objective 1 .................................................................................................................................... 55 4.3. Objective 2 .................................................................................................................................... 56 4.3.1. Sampling Method .................................................................................................................. 57 4.3.2. Data Collection Methods ...................................................................................................... 59 4.4. Objective 3 .................................................................................................................................... 64 5. RESULTS..................................................................................................................................... 66 5.1. Experiences with Mining .............................................................................................................. 66 5.1.1. Employment ............................................................................................................... 67 iv 5.1.1.1. Schedule .............................................................................................................. 71 5.1.1.2. Income and Spending.......................................................................................... 74 5.1.2. Small Business ..............................................................................................................
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