Government of Northwest Territories NWT Home and Community Care Review Government of Northwest Territories NWT Home and Communit

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Government of Northwest Territories NWT Home and Community Care Review Government of Northwest Territories NWT Home and Communit o TD 150-19(2) TABLED ON JUNE 12, 2020 Prepared by: Government of Northwest Territories NWT Home and Community Care Review Final Report September 2625, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... i Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................. i Purpose and Scope of the Review ....................................................................................................................................................... i Review Approach ..................................................................................................................................................................................... ii Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................................................................ iii Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................................................. vi 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Home and Community Care in the NWT ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Review ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2. Approach and Methodology ................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Report Limitations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Current State Assessment Findings................................................................................ 11 3.1 Supply-Side Analysis ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 3.2 Effectiveness of HCC Service Delivery Across the NWT ........................................................................................... 28 3.3 Usage of Forms, Policies, and Procedures ...................................................................................................................... 33 3.4 Efficiency of HCC Service Delivery Across the NWT .................................................................................................. 43 4. Future Requirements and Projected Demand for NWT HCC Services ............... 46 4.1 Service Delivery Improvements ......................................................................................................................................... 46 4.2 Perceived Service Delivery Gaps for HCC Clients ...................................................................................................... 49 4.3 Projected Demand for HCC Services in the NWT ........................................................................................................ 54 5. Jurisdictional Analysis ........................................................................................................ 65 5.1 Home and Community Care Services Across Canada ................................................................................................ 65 5.2 Models, Standards and Practices in Select Jurisdictions .......................................................................................... 71 6. Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................................................. 85 6.1 Key Conlusions and Themes................................................................................................................................................. 85 6.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 101 Appendix A – Review Matrix .......................................................................................................................................................... 101 Appendix B – Interview Guides ..................................................................................................................................................... 106 Appendix C – Form Inventory and Category Defintions .................................................................................................... 118 Appendix D – Key Assumptions for Projection Model 1 .................................................................................................... 127 Appendix E – Key Assumptions for Projection Model 2 ..................................................................................................... 130 Appendix F – Key Assumptions for Recommendation 9.................................................................................................... 133 NWT Home and Community Care Review – Final Report LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Overview of NWT HCC Program .................................................................................................... 2 Table 2: Summary of Key Informant Interviews ...................................................................................... 8 Table 3: Summary of HCC Staffing Complements by Funding Source (2014/15 to 2017/18) and 2018/19 Projection .................................................................................................................................. 14 Table 4: Ratio of HCC Staff to Population by Community and HSSA/Region ............................. 18 Table 5: Utilization of NWT HCC Services by HSSA, Region and Community............................. 19 Table 6: Estimated Client Caseload in 2017/18 Based on Revised Data ...................................... 22 Table 7: Breakdown of HCC Service Hours by Type of Service by HSSA/Region ..................... 24 Table 8: Breakdown of HCC Service Hours by Activity by HSSA/Region ..................................... 25 Table 9: Summary of Annual HCC Referral, Admission, and Discharge Data by Community and HSSA/Region ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Table 10: NWT HCC Program Variance Analysis ................................................................................... 44 Table 11: Population Growth by Age Group in the NWT from 2008 to 2018 ............................ 55 Table 12: Population Growth of 60 Plus Age Demographic by Community from 2007 to 2017 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Table 13: HCC Client Age Distribution by Community ........................................................................ 57 Table 14: Population Age Projections by Age Group and HSSA/Region to the Year 2035.... 58 Table 15: Comparison of Maximum Home Support Hours of Service in Canadian Jurisdictions ......................................................................................................................................................... 65 NWT Home and Community Care Review – Final Report LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Approach to Review .......................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2: NWT HCC Program Areas of Review .......................................................................................... 7 Figure 3: Comparison of HCC Services by NWT Region ...................................................................... 12 Figure 4: Trends in HCC Client Numbers by HSSA and Region ........................................................ 20 Figure 5: Trends in HCC Client Numbers for NTHSSA – Yellowknife Region and NWT Overall .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 6: Trends in Hours of HCC Service by HSSA and Region ...................................................... 23 Figure 7: Types of Documents Used by Different HSSAs/Regions in the NWT ......................... 34 Figure 8: Level of Spending and Budget per HCC Client by HSSA and Region in 2017/18 ... 45 Figure 9: Projected Demand for HCC Services by Age Group and HSSA/Region in the NWT under Projection Model 1 ............................................................................................................................... 61 Figure 10: Projected HSW Staffing Requirements by HSSA/Region under Projection Model 1 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 62 Figure 11: Projected Nursing Staff Requirements by HSSA/Region under Projection
Recommended publications
  • Lands Regional Contacts
    LANDS REGIONAL CONTACTS Beaufort-Delta Region 86 Duck Lake Road ³ Bag Service #1 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Telephone: 867-777-8900 Fax: 867-777-2090 E-mail: [email protected] Sahtu Region 31 Forrestry Drive Northern Cartrols Building Beaufort-Delta Box 126 Norman Wells, NT X0E 0V0 Telephone: 867-587-7200 Fax: 867-587-2928 E-mail: [email protected] Dehcho Region Regional Education Centre, 2nd Floor PO Box 150 Fort Simpson, NT X0E 0N0 Telephone: 867-695-2626 Ext. 202 Fax: 867-695-2615 e-mail: [email protected] Beaufort Sea North Slave Region Sachs Harbour 140 Bristol Avenue !( 16 Yellowknife Airport (mailing) Yellowknife, NT X1A 3T2 Telephone: 867-767-9187 Ext. 24185 Fax: 867-873-9754 E-mail: [email protected] South Slave Region Ulukhaktok !( 136 Simpson Street Tuktoyaktuk !( Evergreen Building Box 658 Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0 Manager, Resource Management Telephone: 867-872-4343 Ext. 23 Aklavik Paulatuk !( Inuvik !( !( Donald Arey Fax: 867-872-3472 867-777-8906 E-mail: [email protected] Hay River Area Office Fort McPherson !( Tsiigehtchic Suite 203, 41 Capital Drive !( N.W Government of Canada Building .T. Yu kon Hay River, NT X0E 0R0 Telephone: 867-874-6995 Ext. 21 Fax: 867-874-2460 E-mail: [email protected] Colville Lake !( Fort Good Hope !( Manager, Resource Management Katherine Ades 867-587-7205 LEGEND LANDS Regional Boundaries M Great a c k Bear 0 20 40 80 120 e n z Sahtu Lake 1:2,100,000 KILOMETERS ie R iv DISCLAIMER !( e Norman Wells r THIS MAP IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.
    [Show full text]
  • Grants and Contributions Results Report 2015 – 2016
    TABLED DOCUMENT 230-18(2) TABLED ON NOVEMBER 3, 2016 Grants and Contributions Results Report 2015 – 2016 November 2016 If you would like this information in another official language, call us. English Si vous voulez ces informations dans une autre langue officielle, contactez-nous. French Kīspin ki nitawihtīn ē nīhīyawihk ōma ācimōwin, tipwāsinān. Cree ch yat k . w n w , ts n . ch Ɂ ht s n n yat t a h ts k a y yat th at , n w ts n y t . Chipewyan n h h t hat k at h nah h n na ts ah . South Slavey K hsh t n k h ht y n w n . North Slavey ii wan ak i hii in k at at i hch hit yin hthan , iits t in hkh i. Gwich in Uvanittuaq ilitchurisukupku Inuvialuktun, ququaqluta. Inuvialuktun ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑎᑎᕐᒃᑲᐃᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᒍᕕᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᓕᕐᒃᓯᒪᓗᑎᒃ, ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖄᓚᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᑦ. Inuktitut Hapkua titiqqat pijumagupkit Inuinnaqtun, uvaptinnut hivajarlutit. Inuinnaqtun Aboriginal Languages Secretariat: 867-767-9346 ext. 71037 Francophone Affairs Secretariat: 867-767-9343 TABLE OF CONTENTS MINISTER’S MESSAGE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................................................................2 Preface .............................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Environment and Natural Nt and Natural Resources
    ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES Implementation Plan for the Action Plan for Boreal Woodland Caribou in the Northwest Territories: 2010-2015 The Action Plan for Boreal Woodland Caribou Conservation in the Northwest Territories was released after consulting with Management Authorities, Aboriginal organizations, communities, and interested stakeholders. This Implementation Plan is the next step of the Action Plan and will be used by Environment and Natural Resources to implement the actions in cooperation with the Tᰯch Government, Wildlife Management Boards and other stakeholders. In the future, annual status reports will be provided detailing the progress of the actions undertaken and implemented by Environment and Natural Resources. Implementation of these 21 actions will contribute to the national recovery effort for boreal woodland caribou under the federal Species at Risk Act . Implementation of certain actions will be coordinated with Alberta as part of our mutual obligations outlined in the signed Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Managing Shared Boreal Populations of Woodland Caribou. This MOU acknowledges boreal caribou are a species at risk that are shared across jurisdictional lines and require co-operative management. J. Michael Miltenberger Minister Environment and Natural Resources IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Environment and Natural Resources Boreal Woodland Caribou Conservation in the Northwest Territories 2010–2015 July 2010 1 Headquarters Inuvik Sahtu North Slave Dehcho South Slave Action Initiative Involvement Region Region Region Region Region 1 Prepare and implement Co-lead the Dehcho Not currently Currently not Not currently To be developed To be developed comprehensive boreal caribou Boreal Caribou Working needed. needed. needed. by the Dehcho by the Dehcho range management plans in Group.
    [Show full text]
  • Negotiating the Dehcho: Protecting Dene Ahthít’E1 Through Modern Treaty-Making
    TD 541-18(3) TABLED ON AUGUST 22, 2019 Negotiating the Dehcho: Protecting Dene Ahthít’e1 through Modern Treaty-Making *Don Couturier This memo is a high-level summary of my research. It is not a full account of my argument or recommendations. I simply introduce my topic and survey its main points and themes. The full report will be available in October, 2019 through the Gordon Foundation’s Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship website. Please refer to the full report for comprehensive context and recommendation development. Thank you to my mentor, Larry Innes, and my cohort of Fellows—without their support, encouragement, and thoughtful teachings this research would not be possible. Introduction The Dehcho Dene, Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Canada must harmonize their competing visions of law and governance through nation-to-nation partnership and treaty federalism. This research modestly describes the positions of each party, identifies areas of mutual understanding, and analyzes potential compromises and opportunities going forward. Three primary sources inform my analysis: the spirit of Treaty 8 and 11; lessons from the success of Edéhzhíe, the first Indigenous Protected Area in the Dehcho region; and Canada’s Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.2 Background Context Negotiations began in 1999.3 The 21 Common Ground Principles and subsequent Dehcho First Nations Framework Agreement established the overarching goal of recognizing a Dehcho “government based on Dene laws and customs, and other laws agreed to by the parties”.4 The Dehcho First Nations Framework Agreement sets out the guiding principles, objectives, roles, and other negotiating specifics.
    [Show full text]
  • Neighbour News
    Fall 2018 Neighbour news Operation update - restart underway Imperial is planning to restart production at the Norman Wells operation following the return to service of the Enbridge pipeline, which transports oil produced at the site to market. It is expected that the field will restart in October. Enbridge replaced a section of the pipeline that runs under the Mackenzie River near Fort Simpson as a precaution. Construction was completed in August, with testing and final start-up work completed through September. “The Norman Wells operation is restarting after a nearly two-year shutdown,” said Kevin Gant, operations superintendent. “During this time, we worked to maintain the safety and integrity of these facilities. I am very proud of the dedication and hard work by our employees and contractors to achieve this goal.” A community celebration is being planned after the restart to mark this milestone. Over 100 employees and contractors are working at the facility, a return to Wade Charney and Brad Menacho, Northern Development Program trainees from the Sahtu, are supporting the normal levels for day-to-day operations. Imperial has hired three Northern Norman Wells operation. Development Program trainees from the Sahtu to support the operation. “We appreciate the support of the local community and Sahtu groups during this extended shutdown,” said Gant. “During this time, Imperial has maintained community investment and scholarship programs and the return to regular operations will increase local economic benefits, including suppliers and service industries.” National Indigenous Peoples Day Imperial was a proud sponsor of National Indigenous Peoples Day in Norman Wells on June 21.
    [Show full text]
  • “We Have Been Living with the Caribou All Our Lives…”
    “We have been living with the caribou all our lives…” A report on information recorded during Prepared by: community meetings for: Janet Winbourne and the Bluenose Caribou Management ‘Taking Care of Caribou - the Cape Bathurst, Plan Working Group for: Advisory Committee for Bluenose-West, and Bluenose-East Barren- Cooperation on Wildlife Ground Caribou Herds Management Plan’ Management October 2014 Suggested citation: Advisory Committee for Cooperation on Wildlife Management. 2014. We have been Living with the Caribou all our Lives: a report on information recorded during community meetings for ‘Taking Care of Caribou – the Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, and Bluenose-East Barren-ground Caribou Herds Management Plan’. Yellowknife, NT. Production note: Drafts of this report were prepared by Janet Winbourne (under contract with the ACCWM) and the Bluenose Caribou Management Plan Working Group. For additional copies contact: Advisory Committee for Cooperation on Wildlife Management c/o Wek’ èezhıì Renewable Resources Board 102 A 4504 49th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT X1A 1A7 Tel.: (867) 873-5740 Fax: (867) 873-5743 Email: [email protected] About the ACCWM: The Advisory Committee for Cooperation on Wildlife Management was established to exchange information, help develop cooperation and consensus, and make recommendations regarding wildlife and wildlife habitat issues that cross land claim and treaty boundaries. The committee consists of Chairpersons (or alternate appointees) of the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), Gwich’in Renewable
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Management Plan
    2020 Nahanni National Park Reserve National Park of Canada Management Plan ii © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, 2020. NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK RESERVE OF CANADA MANAGEMENT PLAN, 2020. Paper: INSERT ISBN NUMBER INSERT CATALOGUE NUMBER PDF: INSERT ISBN NUMBER INSERT CATALOGUE NUMBER Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. For more information about the management plan or about NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK RESERVE: INSERT NAME OF SITE AND FULL MAILING ADDRESS Tel: INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER, fax: INSERT FAX NUMBER Email: INSERT SITE EMAIL ADDRESS INSERT SITE WEBSITE ADDRESS Front cover image credits top from left to right: INSERT CREDIT bottom: INSERT CREDIT Nahanni National Park Reserve iii Management Plan iv Nahanni National Park Reserve v Management Plan Recommendations Recommended by: ________________________________ Michael Nadler Acting Chief Executive Officer Parks Canada ________________________________ Gladys Norwegian Grand Chief Dehcho First Nations ________________________________ Trevor Swerdfager Senior Vice-President, Operations Parks Canada ________________________________ Jonah Mitchell Field Unit Superintendent Southwest Northwest Territories Field Unit Parks Canada ________________________________ Insert name Nahʔą Dehé Consensus Team Nahanni National Park Reserve vi Nahanni National Park Reserve vii Management Plan Executive Summary Nahanni National Park Reserve (Nahanni) was established in 1976 with the original boundary containing an area of 4,766 square kilometers. In 2009, with support from the Dehcho First Nations and Nahʔą Dehé Dene Band, the park reserve was expanded to an area of approximately 30,000 square kilometers, making it the third largest national park in Canada. The expansion area included protection of the unique features of the Ram Plateau and North Nahanni Karst, the Northwest Territories’ only glaciers, and important habitat for species at risk such as grizzly bears and the Northern Mountain population of the woodland caribou.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating Co-Management in the Sahtu: a Framework for Analysis
    UNIVERSTIY OF CALGARY Evaluating Co-management in the Sahtu: A Framework for Analysis by Darwin Bateyko A MASTER’S DEGREE PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FAC ULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CALGARY, ALBERTA SEPTEMBER 2003 © Darwin Bateyko 2003 iii iv THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN The undersigned certify that the y have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Environmental Design for acceptance, a Master's Degree Project entitled Evaluating Co-management in the Sahtu: A Framework for Analysis submitted by Darwin Bateyko in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Design (Environmental Science). __________________________ Prof. Karim-Aly Kassam – Faculty of Communication and Culture Supervisor __________________________ Dr. Norman Simmons – Faculty of Environmental Design (Adjunct) __________________________ Dr. Cormack Gates – Faculty of Environmental Design __________________________ Date: September 26th 2003 v vi Abstract Evaluating Co-management in the Sahtu: A Framework for Analysis Darwin Bateyko September, 2003 A MASTER’S DEGREE PROJECT SUBMITTED TO T HE FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) Supervisor: Professor Karim-Aly Kassam In theory, co-management is defined as a partnership arrangement in which government, the community of local resource users, and other resource stakeholders, share the responsibility and authority for the management of a resource. In practice, however, co- management has been used to describe a number of resource management regimes, ranging from processes that utilize only community consultation, to partnerships that incorporate equal participant decision-making.
    [Show full text]
  • Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim
    Annual Report of the Implementation Committee April 1, 2000–March 31, 2001 Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement 2001 Annual Report Published under the authority of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Ottawa, 2001 www.ainc-inac.gc.ca QS-5354-021-BB-A1 Catalogue No. R31-10/2001 ISBN 0-662-66189-3 © Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada foreword The Implementation Committee is pleased to provide its annual report describes achievements and developments seventh annual report on the implementation of the Sahtu during the year. Information is contributed by various federal Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. The and territorial departments, the SSI and other bodies estab- report covers the fiscal year from April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001. lished under the Agreement. The Implementation Committee comprises a senior official from We are committed to strengthening the partnerships that are each of the parties: the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated (SSI), key to the successful implementation of this Agreement. Our the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and achievements to date are the product of partners working the Government of Canada. It functions by consensus and together to recognize Aboriginal rights in an atmosphere of serves as a forum where parties can raise issues and voice mutual respect, and the commitment of the parties to fulfil obli- their concerns. gations pursuant to this Agreement. The role of the Implementation Committee is to oversee, direct and monitor implementation of the Agreement. This John Tutcho Mark Warren Aideen Nabigon Sahtu Secretariat Government of the Government of Incorporated Northwest Territories Canada 2000–2001 Annual Report | i table of contents Foreword .
    [Show full text]
  • December 2018
    NWTTA NEWS Volume 20 • Issue 2 executive leadership & DECEMBER 2018 Planning Meetings 2018-2019 On October 25-27, 2018, Central Executive, Regional Regional Presidents Back Row (left to right): Patricia Oliver Presidents and Central office staff participated in our annual (YCS), Val Gendron (Dehcho), Éienne Brière (CSFTNO), Robin executive leadership & Planning meetings. Dhanoa (South Slave), JP Bernard (Sahtu), Stephen Offredi (YK1), Wendy Tulk (Tlicho) During the meetings the group met with staff from the Department of education, Culture & employment to discuss Central Executive Front Row (left to right): Gwen Young early Years education, the new “our language” curriculum (Member-at-Large), Todd Sturgeon (Secretary-Treasurer/ and teacher certification issues, reviewed NWTTA member Fort Smith Regional President), Fraser Oliver (President), Issues, Concerns and Celebrations survey results from June Marnie Villeneuve (Vice-President), Matthew Miller (Regional 2018 to provide direction on how we’re doing and what Presidents Representative/Beaufort-Delta Regional President) 2018-2019 priorities need to be. NWTTA NEWS • DECEMBER 2018 1 INsIDe: Yellowknife to Who executive leadership & Baton Rouge, Louisiana Are We? Planning Meetings 2018-2019 1 Fraser Oliver, President In october 2018 NWTTA Yellowknife to Baton Rouge, members completed a short Louisiana 2 The NWTTA held its regional orientations this demographic survey to school Profile september and in early october in all regional discover who we are. Who N.J. macpherson school 4 centers across the NWT. Photos from these Are We results are spread Northern Light regional orientations are featured throughout throughout this newsletter. Amanda Delaurier 6 this issue of the newsletter. Regional orientations Response rate for the survey Aboriginal sports Circle allow regional executives and school lRos to was about 23%, spread out NWTTA Award 2018 7 come together to deliberate on many topics by the below percentages by Northern Light relative to NWTTA members.
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue: De Beers Put Snap Lake Diamond Mine on Care and Maintenance
    Northern Mining News Volume 8, No. 11 November 2015 In this issue: De Beers put Snap Lake diamond mine on care and maintenance .................................... 2 NWT Diamond Mines Face Challenging Markets ............................................................... 3 2015 Exploration Expenditures: up 28% in Nunavut, down 9% in NWT ............................ 5 Diavik finds 187.7 carat diamond – may be largest in Canadian history ............................ 6 Stuff is happening at Hope Bay! TMAC describes path to new NU mine ........................... 7 Cantung mine closes, bankruptcy protection, GNWT buys Mactung property................ 12 NWT Government buys Mactung property as part of Cantung mine bankruptcy ........... 13 Sabina works with communities to advance aboriginal fisheries restoration .................. 14 Quick source of Nunavut Regulatory project updates...................................................... 16 Tibbitt to Contwoyto Ice Road could be one of busiest ever ........................................... 16 Mine Training Society graduates a pilot Tlicho Job Readiness program .......................... 17 NWT to Preserve Deteriorating Rock Sample Resources ................................................. 18 Kudos to MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining .................................................................. 19 2016 WSCC Rates Announced .......................................................................................... 19 New Report! 2015 NWT Mineral Exploration Overview..................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Fostering Community-Based Wildlife Health Monitoring and Research in the Canadian North
    EcoHealth DOI: 10.1007/s10393-009-0256-7 Ó 2009 International Association for Ecology and Health Original Contribution Fostering Community-Based Wildlife Health Monitoring and Research in the Canadian North Ryan K. Brook,1,2 Susan J. Kutz,1 Alasdair M. Veitch,3 Richard A. Popko,3 Brett T. Elkin,4 and Glen Guthrie5 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada 3Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Sahtu Region, Government of the Northwest Territories, Norman Wells, NT, Canada 4Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Wildlife & Fisheries, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT, Canada 5Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, Norman Wells, NT, Canada Abstract: Many northern Canadians have continued a subsistence lifestyle of wildlife harvesting and, therefore, value sustainable wildlife populations. At a regional wildlife workshop in the Sahtu Settlement Area, Northwest Territories in 2002, elders and community leaders raised concerns regarding wildlife health, food safety, and the effects of climate change on wildlife. They requested that efforts be put toward training youth in science and increasing involvement of hunters and youth in wildlife research. In response, we initiated a long-term, integrated approach to foster community-based wildlife health monitoring and research. Annual trips were made to all schools in the Sahtu from 2003 to 2009 to provide hands-on learning for 250–460 students on a range of wildlife topics. In addition, interviews were conducted with 31 hunters and elders to document their local ecological knowledge of wildlife health and local hunters were trained as monitors to collect tissue samples and measurements to assess body condition and monitor health of harvested caribou (n = 69) and moose (n = 19).
    [Show full text]