University of Alberta Resilience to Ecological Change: Contemporary Harvesting and Food-Sharing Dynamics in the K’asho Got'ine community of Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories by Roger C. McMillan A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Rural Sociology Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology © Roger McMillan Spring 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. In memory of Charlie Tobac Edward Gardebois and Mary Barnaby Abstract: This thesis examines how community hunting strategies and food-sharing networks facilitate social-ecological resilience to a decreased availability of barren-ground caribou in the K’asho Got’ine region of the Sahtú Settlement Area. It is based on collaborative research carried out with the Fort Good Hope Renewable Resources Council, including participant observation and interviews. I demonstrate that organizers of autumn community hunts (2007-2010) responded flexibly to ecological conditions (i.e. the availability of different species of game), and to community perspectives about the hunts, while working to address the broader needs of traditional knowledge education for youth and the food security of vulnerable demographics. A tradition of food-sharing has always been an important mechanism by which the latter need is met. Based on a comparison of two hunts in 2009 (a community hunt versus a series of household hunts), I find that vulnerable groups received meat to a greater extent after the community hunt in part through their exercising their eligibility for it through requests. Acknowledgements: My involvement with this project could only have happened through the support and direction of my amazing supervisor, Dr. Brenda Parlee. You have opened so many opportunities for me from fieldwork to conferences (Iceland!), and while challenging me at many stages I am grateful for your steadfast encouragement throughout. In the process of editing this thesis I am realizing how so many of our extensive conversations have been central to its content. I deeply appreciate all your help and guidance. Thank you. Also to my examining committee, I appreciate your time and insights; if only the defence could have lasted another hour! In Fort Good Hope: I am grateful to my thoughtful Research Assistant Anne-Marie Jackson who helped me to see things in different ways, and navigate the uncertainties I faced in getting to know life in Fort Good Hope; I would not have developed nearly the perspective I have without your insight. And to everyone who made me feel so welcome, I thank you. I am especially grateful to the RRC for putting up with my nagging questions for so long, to everyone at Tabasco Lake, and to the Manuels, Tobacs, Jacksons, and Pierrots. There were many highs and lows for me during my time in Good Hope; I learned much about myself, about different ways to see things, and the necessity of nicknames and rubber-boots. A big part of me has really wanted to make a home there. Your community will always have a special place in my heart that I will bring wherever I go. I am particularly grateful for the friendship and accommodation of the following people: Charlie and Laura; Angus; Lawrence and Tisha; Rodger and Mabel, Thomas and Denise; Wilfred and Lucy; Ronald and Sharon; Jim and Theres; Jim and Gloria; Greg and Meli; Arthur T., Fred P., Sarena, Jeanette and Cara, Ida, Arthur, Angie, Crystal (Gretel, Shadow, and Maxx), Anne-Marie, Rhea, Tammy, Chris A, Cassien, and the remarkable H. Bourassa. In Edmonton: My time in Edmonton has been far longer than I’d planned, but I’m relieved to look back and consider it well spent. I have been challenged academically, and have grown personally. In the Department of Rural Economy (I’ll never get used to the new name), thank you especially to Chris Lyon, Wayne Crosby, John Pattison, Brian Joubert, Brad Dollevoet, Angie Chiu, Tiarella Hanna and Ken Caine; also the staff Robin, Sarah, and Randy. And thanks to all the RE students/faculty/staff over the years for making the department such a dynamic place. ‘Team Brenda’ in particular has been a wonderful reservoir of enlightenment and support, and I hope our camaraderie continues: Raila Salokangas, Kristine Wray, Dan Slavik, Andrea Rawluk, and Zoe Todd. I moved 6 times in Edmonton, and to Karl, and Brian and Christine, you have helped me keep sane amidst various crises; in my expansive list of roommates, you shine. Mis gracias profundamente á Adriana Almeida Rodriguez. In Smithers/Vancouver: To my family who are always supportive, thank you. And especially to my brother Michael, may your Masters be done. Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................................... 1 Project Background: ................................................................................................................. 1 Harvesting Characteristics: ...................................................................................................... 2 Ethnographic Background: ...................................................................................................... 2 Community Background: Fort Good Hope (Radilih Koe) .......................................................... 2 Research Purpose and Outline: ................................................................................................ 5 References: .............................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................ 7 Resilience Theory: .................................................................................................................... 7 Summary: ............................................................................................................................... 12 References: ............................................................................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 16 Hunting and Sharing in K’asho Got’ine Culture: .................................................................... 17 Autonomy, Cooperation, and Generosity: ........................................................................................ 17 Hunting Organization: ........................................................................................................... 20 The Solitary Hunter: .......................................................................................................................... 20 Cooperating Hunters: ....................................................................................................................... 21 Contemporary Collective Hunting: ................................................................................................... 23 Hunting and Food-Sharing: .................................................................................................... 25 Insurance and Reciprocity: ............................................................................................................... 26 Sharing after a Hunt: ........................................................................................................................ 27 Sharing and Resource Variability: ..................................................................................................... 29 Contemporary Sharing: ..................................................................................................................... 31 Linkages with the Wage Economy ............................................................................................... 34 Social Relations and Food-Sharing: ........................................................................................ 34 Kinship: ............................................................................................................................................. 35 Harvester Acclaim and Power: .......................................................................................................... 36 Interpreting the Social Roles of Sharing: .......................................................................................... 37 Summary: ............................................................................................................................... 38 References: ............................................................................................................................ 39 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................