Evaluating Co-Management in the Sahtu: a Framework for Analysis
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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. Under Northern Canadian Land Claim Settlements, co-management commonly involves joint decision making and shared responsibility regarding resource planning and management. Although these resource management boards have the financial and legal backing of Land Claim Agreements, their resource management success is largely dependent on the amount of stakeholder support for the process, the function of internal organization activities, and external factors affecting the co-managed region. This Masters Degree Project proposes and field tests an evaluation framework designed for renewable resource co-management boards and the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB) in particular. The framework builds on previous co-management evaluations completed in Northern Canada, as well as other more recent methods of organizational assessment. As a partnership was formed with the SRRB, the framework was tailored to reflect Board input and the specifics of this co-management regime. Field testing this evaluation framework yielded general lessons and suggestions for implementing future co-management assessments, in addition to specific findings and recommendations for the SRRB. Key Words: Co-management, Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Northwest Territories, evaluation framework, renewable resource management, collaborative resource management, traditional resource management. vii iii Acknowledgements This research project would not have been possible without the contribution and assistance of a number of individuals, who went beyond the call of duty to provide their expertise, guidance and support. Their contribution greatly enhanced my learning process, as well as the quality of the research contained herein. Therefore, I would like to extend a very special thank to the following people. First, I would like to acknowledge the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB) for providing me with the opportunity to conduct this research and the financial support to carry out the presentation of results in the community. The SRRB staff and Board members were crucial to the success of this project, and without their insight, advice, and input, this research would never have been possible. I would also like to acknowledge the many participants in this study for their time and input into the research process, as well as the residents of the Sahtu, for their support while I was in the communities; Mahsi. Second, I would like to acknowledge my supervisory committee for their advice, assistance, and support. Karim-Aly Kassam, Cormack Gates and Norman Simmons provided me with exceptional wisdom and guidance through this MDP process, which strengthened both my educational experience and my research. I would like to extend a very special thank you to my supervisor Karim-Aly Kassam, who has been an important and influential figure throughout my academic career. Without Prof. Kassam’s unfaltering support and continual encouragement, I would never have undertaken a graduate degree. Third, I would like to thank my friends and family for all their encouragement and support during this three-year process. I would especially like to thank Jennifer Cardiff, Cassandra Cardiff and Dustin Bateyko for their understanding and support. iii Finally, I would like to thank my father Peter Bateyko and my late mother Ruth Bateyko for their inspiration and encouragement, without which I would never have achieved the successes that I have. Thank you, once again, for everyone who assisted me in undertaking and completing this graduate degree! Cheers, Darwin Bateyko iv Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................1 1.1 the Task..................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Context of the Research............................................................................................ 4 1.2.1 The Case Study .................................................................................................. 5 1.3 The MDP Outline...................................................................................................... 7 1.4 The Limtiations......................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Methods and Methodology ..........................................................................11 2.1 Research Methodology........................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Interventionist Approach................................................................................. 12 2.1.2 Academics as citizens ..................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Participatory Research..................................................................................... 13 2.1.4 Dialogical Approach....................................................................................... 13 2.2 Principles and Paradigms: Informing the Framework and Approach................... 14 2.3 Methods................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Literature Review............................................................................................. 15 Collaborative Processes ........................................................................................... 15 Resource Management.............................................................................................. 16 Evaluation Techniques.............................................................................................. 16 Northern Context....................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Semi Structured Interviews.............................................................................. 18 2.3.3 Participant Observation.................................................................................... 20 2.4 The Case Study....................................................................................................... 21 2.5 The Findings and the Recommendations ................................................................ 22 Chapter 3: Northern Context .........................................................................................23 3.1 An Historical Overview of the Development of North Western Canada ............... 24 3.2 The Land Claim Agreement.................................................................................... 26 3.2.1 Negotiating the Claim ...................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 The Spirit of the Land Claim Agreement ........................................................ 29 3.2.3 The Sahtu Region........................................................................................... 30 The Districts.............................................................................................................. 30 3.3 The Residents and the Communities....................................................................... 31 3.3.1 Organizations created under the Land Claim Agreement................................ 33 3.4 Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 4: Resource Management.................................................................................39 4.1 Resource Management...........................................................................................