First Nations Engagement with Research for Community Benefit
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KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION: FIRST NATIONS ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT by Leana Garraway B.A., University of Northern British Columbia, 2008 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA April 2013 © Leana Garraway, 2013 UMI Number: 1525667 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation PiiblishMiQ UMI 1525667 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract Knowledge translation is the sharing of knowledge in an effort to make research more meaningful to society. Currently, many gaps exist in effective knowledge to action especially for research carried out with Aboriginal peoples. My master’s research explores knowledge translation and knowledge to action in regards to recent research initiatives in, and for, the Takla Lake First Nation (TLFN). Using content analysis based on focus group interviews with 17 community participants, I was interested to see if community members’ expectations of the research process had been met, and to hear from community members themselves about strategies and approaches they wanted taken to translate knowledge obtained from research into actions. This thesis research finds that a better understanding of the context and ways of knowing of a group is necessary to undertake effective research and knowledge translation activities. Also, there is a need for more defined and established evaluation criteria and techniques for Aboriginal knowledge translation. Finally, I argue that the TLFN want future actions in the community to derive from strength-based approaches based in the traditional TLFN culture as a method to improve community unity, health and wellbeing. Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................1 Research Questions ................................................................................................................2 Theoretical Framework..........................................................................................................3 Background............................................................................................................................4 Overview of Thesis ................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 7 Risk Perception, Analysis and Management......................................................................... 8 Risk and the Environmental Impact Assessment Process in Canada ............................ 10 Traditional Ways of Knowing ..............................................................................................13 Sense of Place in an Aboriginal Context........................................................................ 13 The Importance of Aboriginal Culture .................................................................................17 Cultural Continuity, Language & Identity ..................................................................... 18 Culture as a Determinant of Health and Wellbeing ...................................................... 21 Knowledge Translation and Knowledge to Action.............................................................25 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................30 CHAPTER THREE: STUDY CONTEXT..................................................................................... 31 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 31 The People of Takla Lake First Nation............................................................................... 32 The Geography of the Traditional Territory of the Takla Lake First Nation .....................32 Traditional Land Use, Economy and Social Organization ................................................. 34 Influences on Culture and Traditional Economy ................................................................37 The Fur Trade ..................................................................................................................38 The Gold Rush .................................................................................................................40 Colonial Governments and Missionaries .......................................................................40 The Emergence and Growth of Industrial Activity in the TLFN Territory ...................44 The Takla Lake First Nation’s Recent Research Projects.................................................. 46 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................49 iii CHAPTER FOUR: METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................50 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 50 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 50 Ethical Considerations .........................................................................................................53 Data Collection.....................................................................................................................54 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................61 Ensuring Rigour ...................................................................................................................64 Confidentiality.....................................................................................................................65 Positionality.........................................................................................................................66 Flexibility............................................................................................................................. 68 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS..........................................................................................................70 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 70 The Changes Brought by Wage Labour .............................................................................. 71 Loss of Community Unity ...............................................................................................72 Undermining of the Traditional Power Structure ...........................................................74 The Loss of Spirituality...................................................................................................75 Alcohol and Drugs Issues................................................................................................76 Strengthening Connection to Culture, Language and Identity ............................................78 Teaching Culture and Language ..................................................................................... 78 Opportunities to Engage in Cultural Activities ..............................................................81 Increasing Community Labour ............................................................................................84 Environmental Cleanup and Monitoring ............................................................................. 87 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................89 CHAPTER SIX: DISCUSSION......................................................................................................91 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................91 Reflections on the Two Different Perspectives in the Research Process ........................... 92 Strengthening the Unity of the Community ........................................................................93 Strengthening Connection to Culture, Language & Identity ............................................