QANUITTUMIK TAKUVIT ? Report on the results of a Research Planning Workshop in: Held from December 9 - 10, 2009 in the Kivalliq Association Conference Room

Funded by a SSHRC Northern Communities Research Development Initiative

" Meeting Objectives Workshop Overview Important Findings Future Directions List of Participants Appendices

p. 2 Day 1, Dec 9, 2009 Research Process p. 7 p. 8 See attached p. 2 p. 4 documents. Research Priorities Day 2, Dec 10, 2009 p. 5 p. 3

Canada, Tunngavik Incorporated, ! A unique funding opportunity Workshop background and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, provided by the Social Sciences and brought together Inuit and scientific experts Humanities Research Council offered the Gita Laidler has been working to consider how to improve weather and chance to develop new research partnerships collaboratively with the Qikiqtani sea ice forecasting services in Nunavut. and facilitate discussions around ideas for communities of Cape Dorset, Igloolik, and Inuit elders and hunters who participated new projects - including the assessment of Pangnirtung since 2003 on a project about were mainly from the Qikiqtani region of community-specific priorities, interests, and Inuit sea ice knowledge and use. Through Nunavut, but Jerome Tattuinee was also feasibility. Gita, Veronica, and others worked this work she has been documenting Inuit invited to represent the , and together during the fall of 2008 to develop a knowledge of sea ice through interviews, Bob Konana represented the Kitikmeot funding application that included both workshops, travelling with hunters, Region. This was a wonderful meeting, Rankin Inlet and Gjoa Haven. We were very mapping, documenting local observations with fascinating exchanges about safety happy to learn that we received the funding in and implications of sea ice change, and indicators and regional differences. We the spring of 2009. Therefore, preliminary recording sea ice terminology. learned a great deal about the planning for this Rankin Inlet Research Recently, she has also been working to improvements needed in local weather Planning Workshop began in the summer of combine these results into educational forecasting services and sea ice monitoring 2009, with the logistics and details mainly materials using interactive multi-media. with satellite imagery, in order to better arranged in October and November, 2009. As Overall, her research goals are to: i) learn meet community needs (see Appendix 1). part of this process, Veronica worked with the about northern environments and their At that time, Jerome and Bob also expressed Community Lands and Resources Committee connections to social and economic interest in expanding this kind of research (CLARC) members to develop a list of invited prosperity from local and Inuit experts; ii) into other regions of Nunavut, and invited participants that represented a range of types conduct research of interest and benefit to Gita (and others) to consider developing of contributions and experiences, including northern communities; and, iii) look at the new projects in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot both men and women of various ages. In complementary aspects of Inuit knowledge Regions. At that time Gita committed to particular, there was strong interest from and scientific knowledge to have a more following up by searching for new funding CLARC and Jerome to make sure that some comprehensive understanding of complex opportunities. In this process, she was put youth were present, as research is seen as issues, and to learn from different in touch with Veronica Tattuinee to help being undertaken for the youth and their techniques and perspectives. connect with Jerome and work together on future. ! In March, 2007, a workshop jointly options for a new project in Rankin Inlet. facilitated and hosted by Environment Rankin Inlet December 2009 Workshop Report! 1 QANUITTUMIK TAKUVIT?

Learning about community concerns about Meeting Objectives Workshop Overview research, as well as emerging local priorities, is critical to developing a successful ! The driving question of this meeting Day 1 (Dec 9, 2009) collaboration, so we continued to identify both is also the title of this research development Morning concerns and priorities as they were raised. project: Qanuittumik takuvit? (What do you ! Informal introductions were made Later in the meeting, we used the concerns see?). This came specifically from expressions over coffee and snacks as people arrived in the along with additional discussions to help Jerome Tattuinee and Bob Konana used at the morning. Thomas Suvissak opened the identify the elements of a successful research March, 2007 meeting, with both a historical workshop with a prayer. Gita Laidler project, and we incorporated the priorities and current context. In the past, they introduced herself as well as the story of how with the results of another more specific described how as youth they were always we all came to be together on this day (see p. exercise to refine local research priorities. asked to go outside in the morning and 1). This was followed by a round table of Afternoon observe the weather, and tell their parents introductions, where each of the participants, New priorities what they see. This was not only an exercise facilitators, and interpreters introduced ! Building off morning discussions, in learning weather indicators and seasonal themselves and shared a bit about their Bryan Grimwood reviewed the notes that he patterns, but also a broader lesson in interest in, or role for, this meeting. and and Mary Rose Angushadluk had made observation, always being aware of your Unfortunately, Jerome Tattuinee, who had on the white board. We then broke into small surroundings, and sharing what you learn initially expressed interest in expanding groups to discuss local research priorities in with others. Today, as a project title, this research in Rankin Inlet, and provided a lot of Rankin Inlet. Although a number of potential question is used to ask workshop participants support through Veronica Tattuinee in the priorities were raised in each group, to think about what is most important to them planning stages, was unable to attend at the discussions seemed to keep coming back to in a community context. The goal is to learn last minute. This may have made it more the concerns around how research is about local research interests based on challenging for other participants to undertaken, and how Inuit knowledge can community members’ observations and understand the background and purpose of effectively be represented or shared in written experiences in various contexts. this meeting, but we had an excellent, form (if at all). Through these small group dynamic, and diverse group of participants discussions, a number of very important, ! Gita Laidler, working with Anne that led to many meaningful and insightful deep-seated questions arose around: Kendrick and Bryan Grimwood, was in discussions during the rest of the workshop. the meaning of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Rankin Inlet to learn from the knowledgeable Overall meeting objectives were introduced • (IQ) group of workshop participants, and to (see p. 2), with the suggestion to begin the utility of research in a community discuss ideas and priorities from their discussions by getting to know what previous • context perspectives. This workshop was held to see research had been done in or around Rankin strong concerns for local community if there was interest in working together to Inlet, and with what degree of local • health with the implications of the old develop a new collaborative research project collaboration. nickel mine site and poor waste to follow up on earlier expressions of interest Past projects management services and facilities shared two years ago by Jerome. Initial ! As we began learning about past within town objectives are outlined in the project projects conducted in or around the area, such the appropriateness of documenting summary (see Appendix 2), but workshop as polar bear, peregrine falcon, aurora • Inuit knowledge discussions were not strictly tied to this. The borealis, the old nickel mine, the Hudson Bay passing on knowledge to youth meeting agenda (see Appendix 3) was Working Group, the new road construction • family ties designed to change and be adjusted based on connecting Rankin with , and family • feeling ignored by government (from the directions that discussions would take the tree research, the discussion focused much • local to federal levels) group. The main emphasis for this meeting more on concerns with various types of lack of credit for Inuit knowledge was to be interactive, and driven by the research rather than on particular projects. A • wanting more control over research and interests and expertise of participants, with number of concerns were raised about how • more funding for local research flexible formats to allow for direct participant research is being done, especially in relation to ! These were important recurring contributions. polar bear and other wildlife research. In themes throughout the afternoon, and into the addition, as part of the same process, a next day. In addition, a great deal of number of research priorities began to emerge, frustration was expressed among participants based on explanations of how participants about both research and government wanted to address some of their concerns.

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practices, and the challenges raised by then share more about what they meant with • sea ice/weather research from local and differences in perspectives between Inuit and the points they raised. This served to identify Inuit perspectives (and linking to scientific qallunaat on various issues. Each group a comprehensive listing of ‘best practices’ research) individually shared their research priorities that community members were looking for in • documenting local perspectives/concerns and concerns raised, with facilitation of research projects, as well as a number of related to health issues or wildlife research discussions being very effectively supported additional research priorities that were added • education - incorporating more IQ into by the bilingual participants at the meeting. to earlier compilations. schools, different approaches to teaching Through these exchanges we continued to add Afternoon and learning to earlier brainstorming lists of both research Overview and priorities • developing a database to house priorities and elements that should be ! The President and Executive Director monitoring or other locally important included in a successful research project to of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA), Jose information for future access or use deal with the concerns expressed. Kusugak and Patrick Tagoona, joined us • help writing grant or funding proposal ! Given all the powerful concerns that briefly in the afternoon. Both had been very applications the community organizations were raised during the day, at the end of the supportive of this meeting given the logistical would run, or might need help with day Gita asked the group if they were still support and meeting space they provided undertaking research interested in continuing on with this over the week. Jose, in particular, was ! During the last part of the afternoon workshop to try to develop ideas or plans for encouraging us to recognize and appreciate it was decided as a group that sufficient a new collaborative research project. All the depth of knowledge in both Inuit and discussions had taken place, and the last half- participants expressed the value in this group scientific approaches to learning, day planned in the schedule (for Friday) was discussion, as they do not often have such a documenting, and sharing knowledge (i.e. not needed. So, Gita had to leave to arrange forum to share their concerns or voice their conducting research in various forms). While for honoraria payments, and while she was frustrations. Given that many of these issues Jose and Patrick were at the meeting, Gita gone Anne outlined some potential funding were discussed at length, all were keen to reviewed the research priorities that had been opportunities (e.g. Health Canada funding for continue on with another day and try to focus identified through the previous day and a half community-based and directed projects, Social more on identifying local priorities for as a refresher, and a means of getting feedback Sciences and Humanities Research Council research. Based on this positive finish, we regarding which of the many priorities might grants for longer term collaborative research planned to begin the next day with a targeted be of most interest for starting a potential working with university researchers) to see if discussion around identifying what makes a project. It seemed difficult for the group to anyone was interested in jointly pursuing successful research project. prioritize these points, or agree on a particular funding to develop a project around some of Day 2 (Dec 10, 2009) direction in terms of research, but it did the research priorities identified in the Morning become clear that those in the group were glad meeting. Bryan then followed up with an ! With a reminder from Lizzie Ittinuar, to have discussed these issues, and were keen overview about what participants could Thomas again opened the second day with a to take more initiative locally to address some expect in terms of reporting and feedback prayer. This was followed by a review of of the concerns that were raised. from this workshop. Once Gita returned, we meeting objectives, and then we moved into ! Broadly speaking, overarching reviewed the discussions that occurred over activities around defining element of a priorities that seemed to emerge from the the course of the two-day workshop, and successful research project. workshop included: attempted to define major priorities to follow A successful project i) waste management and community health; up with. ! These discussions began with an ii) Inuit concepts of sustainability and ! To conclude the meeting, we went individual exercise of noting (on cue cards) conservation/stewardship (to inform around the table, and each participant, what aspects each person (participants, wildlife research and management); and, interpreter, and facilitator had the opportunity interpreters, and facilitators) would like to see iii)the connections between cultural skills, to share a few parting words. Overall, it was a in a project that is developed in collaboration knowledge, documentation, and education. challenging and eye-opening meeting, and with community members and takes into Gita offered that the things she could help there were many expressions of thanks for the account Inuit knowledge and expertise. with, and potentially find funding for, would ability to get together, share ideas and Responses were again quite varied, both relate to: opinions, and to raise awareness amongst identifying essential aspects of collaborative • placenames documentation/mapping each other. It was a wonderful learning research projects, as well as additional points • community-based monitoring experience, and could become an important related to local research priorities. Mariah • characterizing Inuit perspectives on foundation for local collaborative research, if Aliyak and Mary Rose took turns reading out conservation that is where the group decides that their the cards in English or Inuktitut, and the • linking to the cultural school in Baker priorities lie. individual who contributed the ideas would Lake, Igloolik, and Clyde River

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Important Findings: Research Process What makes a successful, community-based, collaborative research process? Since so many concerns were raised around how research is conducted in the North, we spent a full session discussing important elements of the research process, and the group came up with the recommendations shown below (in their own words). Local benefits and respect Respect all forms of Involve youth knowledge Ensure local benefits from research Involve elders and youth Gain buy-in through Work with local schools productive, Work together Provide training knowledge documentation Link and learn from Inuit opportunities positive and scientific knowledge research Engage hunters in

Jointly decide

on research methods &

apply for

funding

participants

Effective reporting

accessible stages project, and work with Verify results with research reports easily

Report back at all stages of Make results and

participants at each stage

at all at

members members

community community

consult locally about who who about locally consult

together together

Involve Involve Identify local partners & & partners local Identify

Plan Plan

to involve to

Focus on priority issues for the the for issues priority on Focus

outcomes

community

communication Address local local Address Jointly use research use Jointly

priorities

facilitate effective effective facilitate

(not just regional) just (not

communication Need good interpreters to to interpreters good Need

Engage local organizations organizations local Engage

Focus on effective effective on Focus

making

participation in decision- in participation Communication

More Inuit-led research & & research Inuit-led More Local involvement Local

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Important Findings: Research Priorities Over the course of the meeting, a number of community interests and concerns were raised, which were ultimately highlighted by the group as important research priorities. The suggestions for priority areas reflect either statements made in the meeting, or priorities noted during small group or individual cue card activities, and are in the words of participants.

Wildlife Inuit Advocacy Wildlife study! • Impacts of Green Peace on Inuit livelihoods • Conduct a local study of wildlife • Express concerns for the guesswork of science and partial truths of • Observation of wildlife research (e.g. interpretation of tent rings, boundaries of polar bear • Document wildlife behaviour research) • Do an annual report • Share Inuit traditions to raise awareness, different from other Caribou! Canadians • Caribou numbers are going down in the region • Inuit are not victims, need to speak up more about concerns with • Better research methods have to be used to count the caribou research, environmental activism, and government decisions (e.g. • Less caribou migrate together, but in smaller groups “Point the gun the other way”) • Solid numbers should be used per caribou, not guessing or • Inuit must start speaking about ice estimating • When researching caribou, hunters should be used during the Health Centre air observations (by plane) Kivalliq Health Centre! • Use of cameras should be investigated to count the caribou • Save money on air travel by having health centre/hospital in Polar bears! Rankin Inlet • Health • Kivalliq Health Centre is not used for the purpose it was initially • Scientific research results and methods are questionable proposed for in development stages • Wildlife will not all be gone with reduced sea ice • Why are we not using the health facility as it was proposed • Is there really a decline in polar bear numbers? originally as a regional facility? (i.e. people in the Kivalliq region Understanding and communicating Inuit conservation practices! were supposed to come to Rankin for medical but this is still not • Caribou migration and trails; routes the case) • Fish (Williamson Lake); no more fish because told not to fish so • How can we get more accurate and timely diagnoses locally? they died off • Sustainable development Mining • Lemming migrations Meliadine mining camp! • Inuit responsibility for wildlife (it’s not Inuit fault for declining • Concerns around tailings ponds wildlife), Inuit know how much to catch! • Need a research/report on existing mines re: consequences on • Respect for Inuit knowledge and hunting practices land, ponds, lakes, habitat, animals (e.g. Lynn Lake, Nanisivik, Diavik, Cullaton Lake) Inter-cultural partnership • What will the mine do about these kinds of impacts? • Develop inter-community or inter-cultural groups • Partner with other Aboriginal People in Canada and around the world • Inuit organizations need to work more effectively with government, and incorporate more IQ

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Local Waste/Pollution Climate Change Local garbage blowing back to the community! Global warming! Why aren’t we using the new dump yet (a lot of money • • New growth of weeds, vegetation, plants invested, but lying dormant because of poor initial planning/ • No more year-round ice on hills and mountains consultation)? • Changes to prevailing wind (summer) South wind causes garbage to blow back to the community • • Traditional underground “freezers” no more (near, across • Smell of the dump is more obvious now that the winds come Marble Island) from the south in the summer • Different food and insects Bad oil/gas! Land and sea “Other” contaminants ! • Why later freeze-up?! • Concerns for the effects of environmental contaminants on Snow and ice! human health (e.g. household cleaning supplies, batteries, • Conduct local snow and ice observations refrigerators) • IQ collection of past observations Wondering about effects on the ozone layer • • Identity local people that can coordinate a project Garbage and community clean up (including on the land)! • Identify local people that will conduct the community based Sewage monitoring Sewage being dumped straight into cove/sea; can see evidence • • Collect the info monthly and produce annual reports along the shore • Staff at Public Works should start monitoring the sewage being Education, Traditional Skills, and Cultural programs released into the bay more and have the macerator run Teaching and educating IQ more effectively! properly • “Education” vs. learning from ancestors! • Parts for macerator should be readily available in case of Sharing knowledge openly to aid future generations! breakdowns • When will IQ be shared with others (e.g. government)? Research should be conducted with fish around the sewer • • When will we open up? ! outlet to monitor contaminants from the sewage being • Government response to community concerns needs to be discharged to the bay. improved • What are our options? Opportunities for youth • No craft shop in community Document Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) • Children’s shelter! (research locally to see if there is a need) Place names! • Child welfare officials, need to train Inuit to be child advocates • KIA has a GIS system so the community should get together Inuktitut Language! and collect place names • Need more Inuktitut teachers Talk to elders and hunters to preserve traditional place names • • Teach kids that the language is important Communicate and apply traditional place names for land, lakes • • Part of our culture; show importance Include place names in defining polar bear boundaries, • • Part of our oral history establish traditional birthing grounds and hunting grounds Learning on/from the land! Document IQ for future Inuit, not for someone or somebody else! • Design on-the-land workshops Define IQ…need to understand it’s true meaning! • • Traditional skills on land should be taught throughout the year, • Important to combat language loss and involve elders! Need to consider IQ more alongside scientific knowledge and • • Need more cultural programs specific to each community in decision-making • Teach youth traditional skills in schools, or develop local • Encourage more youth to go on the land cultural school Support more Inuit-run research • • Today a lot of us don’t know how to sew traditional clothing • Interview elders while they are still around (i.e., hunting clothes, kamiks, etc.) or cut up animals Respect oral history • • Travel more with family to help kids learn about the land Family tree project! Education imbalance between north and south No longer closely tied to family or traditional group members • • How do we better educate our youth? • What kind of funding is available for this?

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• with brainstorming sessions, many issues • local community committees and Future Directions arose that were problem-focused, and organizations need to communicate and Some important conclusions related to discussions were at times quite intense, coordinate better amongst each other, as process... which can lead to a feeling of being each is dealing with many of these issues/ • the meeting provided an important overwhelmed by a large set of “community challenges independently opportunity for community members to get challenges or issues” or feeling helpless; • work together to understand more about together and share their ideas and concerns however, in the end, it helped to give what is involved in starting up a local around community issues - although this participants perspective and they took the grassroots “concerned citizens committee”, was not always explicitly focused on lead on identifying new directions which and need to learn how this can be developing a research project, it was very included efforts to take more action in the established and identify key goals in doing fruitful in determining community interests community to address some of their this and actions they would like to take locally concerns Three major items were identified as being to address their concerns (and results of this • when developing new projects, it is priorities for follow-up after the meeting: workshop could be used to help in lobbying important to find a balance between coming i) workshop participants agreed to develop a efforts with the Hamlet Council, the in completely open-ended (which can be concerned citizens committee to advocate with the Hamlet, local health centre, Hunters Government of Nunavut, Nunavut overwhelming and confusing) and being and Trappers Organizations (HTO), their well-defined (which can be too externally Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), KIA, etc.) Member of the Legislative Assembly, Nunavut • many concerns were raised about how both driven, narrowly defined, and does not Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), etc., regarding scientific and community-based research are allow enough flexibility for refinement or many of the concerns that were raised during conducted that suggest that these are change with local feedback) the workshop; important discussions to have at the outset • research needs to be beneficial in the ii) Gita should coordinate with Gabriel to follow of any project, and that current approaches community context (i.e. more applied up on ideas of developing community-based or methods cannot be taken for granted as dimensions) not only in the academic research regarding Inuit concepts of effective or appropriate (e.g. of worlds context (i.e. typically more in theoretical sustainability or stewardship (including colliding around polar bear management dimensions) monitoring environmental or wildlife issues, and questions raised about: When IQ • workshop model is well suited to conditions and documenting related Inuit is recorded/documented/written down, it participatory action research approaches knowledge, in collaboration with NTI Wildlife loses its meaning. How then can IQ compete • need effective compensation and due credit Dept. and HTO); and, with Science or professors, whose for local contributions to research iii) Gita should coordinate with Donna to follow credentials are legitimated and authorized • Inuit organizations can be good partners in up on ideas of developing more appropriate means of documenting and communicating through practices of documented and research and to support relationships with Inuit knowledge to the rest of the world. written words?) local community organizations and Many important and highly insightful ideas • many concerns were expressed with the individuals came through these intense discussions with amount of input community members have Some important conclusions related to a dynamic and thoughtful group. As the in government, research, or mining priorities... coordinator of this overall workshop and development decisions • climate change was only one among many research development project, Gita Laidler • wanting to work together (Inuit, other prominent issues raised by workshop extends her help in an advisory, research researchers, government, industry) for the participants, in fact local health, cultural project development, literature analysis, or future, and for northern youth vitality, and wildlife seemed to be the most funding application capacity to support the • work with local organizations to identify important points of discussion priorities and concerns raised by the group ongoing research priorities or develop • wanting annual gathering like this meeting over the two-day meeting. There are many projects to express concerns or identify progress or directions we could take given all these • Inuit knowledge cannot be effectively priorities important questions, and she is seeking captured or communicated in written form, • work with local groups advocating for more direction from the community as to how ongoing tensions surrounding use of this local support services and counseling (e.g. they would like to follow up, and what role kind of knowledge as not representing the with Elder’s Group) she could play in the process. This meeting truth about Inuit, concern about due credit • dealing with cross-cultural conflicts around was only meant to be a starting point, and in and misunderstandings being propagated wildlife management fact it has resulted in many possible starting through research where someone has only • community members need to take on some points in terms of community activism, spent a short time in a community and of these priorities, researchers cannot help collaborative research, and potential new makes assumptions about how things work with important issues such as child abuse or health care partnerships.

Rankin Inlet December 2009 Workshop Report! 7 QANUITTUMIK TAKUVIT? List of Participants We are grateful for the openness and insights that each of the workshop participants, facilitators, interpreters, and visitors brought to this meeting. Donna Adams Bryan Grimwood Anne Kendrick Gabriel Women’s Group Carleton University Carleton University Nirlungayuk representative (Meeting facilitator and Inuit Tapiriit NTI, Director of and logistical Kanatami (Meeting Wildlife support) coordinator and Mariah Aliyak Additional visitors Independent facilitator) Mike Nukapiak to the meeting: interpreter/translator Lizzie Ittinuar High School student, Betty Autut (CBC North) (Meeting interpreter Community Gita Laidler youth representative Joseph Curley (High and facilitator) representative Carleton University school student) (Project lead, Meeting Thomas Suvissak Bert Dean (NTI Widlife) Mary Rose Louie Innukshuk coordinator and Elder’s Group Jose Kusugak (KIA Angushadluk Elder’s Group facilitator) Chairman President) representative Patrick Tagoona (KIA KIA interpreter/ Executive Director) translator (Meeting Celestino Makpah Veronica Tattuinee interpreter and Jack Kabvitok CLARC member KIA Lands facilitator) CLARC member Administrator David Ningeongan (Meeting coordinator) Paul Kanayok Community CLARC and HTO representative member

Acknowledgements Questions or comments Many thanks to Veronica, Anne, and Bryan for about this report? all their tremendous work in coordinating and Gita Laidler facilitating the workshop, and to Mariah and Department of Geography & Environmental Mary Rose for helping us to communicate. We Studies are grateful to KIA for their logistical support Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Drive, B349 Loeb Building throughout meeting preparation and workshop Ottawa, ON K2B 5K1 activities, as well as their generous in-kind [email protected] contributions of staff time and door prizes. Nanuq Lodge Phone: (613) 520-2600 x2566 Fax: (613) 520-4301 provided comfortable and very accommodating lodging, with www.straightupnorth.ca many thanks to Page Burt and John Hickes for their numerous rides to and from the airport. Finally, we are grateful to Veronica Tattuinee Kivalliq Inuit Association SSHRC for the funding support to bring us all together. P.O. Box 340, 164-1 Mivvik Avenue Rankin Inlet, NU X0C 0G0 [email protected] Phone: (867) 645-5734 Report prepared by Gita Laidler, February 4, 2010 Fax: (867) 645-3855

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