This publication is a collaboration between the Aurora Research Institute, The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories and The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Thank you to all who submitted a summary of their research, photographs and helped make this publication possible. Editor: Karen Heikkila, Aurora Research Institute Andrew Applejohn, Aurora Research Institute Copyright © 2008 ISSN: 1205-3910 Printed in Fort Smith through the Aurora Research Institute ABOUT THE AURORA RESEARCH INSTITUTE The Aurora Research Institute (ARI) was established in 1995 as a division of Aurora College when the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories (NWT) divided into eastern (Nunavut) and western (NWT) divisions. The Aurora Research Institute’s mandate is to improve the quality of life for NWT residents by applying scientific, technological and Indigenous Knowledge to solve northern problems and advance social and economic goals. ARI is responsible for: • licensing and coordinating research in accordance with the NWT Scientists Act: This covers all disciplines including the physical, social, biological sciences and Traditional Knowledge; • promoting communication between researchers and the people of the communities in which they work; • promoting public awareness of the importance of science, technology and Indigenous Knowledge; • fostering a scientific community within the NWT which recognizes and uses the Traditional Knowledge of northern aboriginal people; • making scientific and Indigenous Knowledge available to the people of the NWT; • supporting or conducting research and technological developments which contribute to the social, cultural and economic prosperity of the people of the NWT To learn more about ARI, contact us at: Aurora Research Institute 191 Mackenzie Road P.O. Box 1450 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Tel: 867-777-3298 Fax: 867-777-4264 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nwtresearch.com Introduction FOREWORD This Compendium represents two years of efforts and investigations by Canadian and foreign researchers to understand the environmental, social and cultural issues of our polar regions and the Northwest Territories (NWT). The Aurora Research Institute (ARI), along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, presents this compilation to provide a short overview of licensed scientific pursuits in the NWT. ARI, under the mandate of the NWT Scientists Act, ensures this annual publication is compiled and available to all communities and individuals interested and affected by result of research. This publication is meant to serve as a starting point to understanding the depth and breath of the world-class science that takes place in the NWT. Contacting the researchers, using the contact information provided, will allow you to access more comprehensive publications and reports. This Compendium shows the ever increasing interest in the social sciences in the NWT. With such a diverse social fabric consisting of many nations, peoples, languages and governments, the NWT is a vibrant and unique place to research human interactions. With this increased interest in the human world comes a rise in community driven and community run research projects. These projects provide the opportunity to develop collaborative research models that are culturally sensitive and relevant to all involved. Traditional knowledge remains an important piece to all research in the North. The Government of the Northwest Territories works to promote and support its newly evolving place in research. There are some projects in this Compendium that are specifically categorized under traditional knowledge, however, elders, youth, hunters, wildlife monitors, and community members provide their knowledge of the land and tradition to all researchers they work and interact with. This information becomes the background by which research is conducted and provides a unique addition to data gathered in the NWT. The NWT is a hub of all types of research. It is an important place to study changes to the North, its people and its landscape. ARI works to connect researchers with the communities of the NWT by promoting and supporting studies which improve the understanding of the natural resources, indigenous knowledge and cultures of the area. This Compendium is an overview of this research climate and it is my hope that it inspires more questions and discovery within the NWT. Andrew Applejohn Director, Aurora Research Institute COMPENDIUM OF RESEARCH IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — 2004-2005 ii Introduction TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Aurora Research Institute ............................................................................................ i Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... iii About This Book ............................................................................................................................ v Figure 1: Land Claim Regions in the Northwest Territories .............................................................................................. viii 2004 Licensed Research Projects…………………………………………………………………… .. 9 Aurora Research Institute Scientific Research Licences Biology ........................................................................................................................ 10 Contaminants.............................................................................................................. 39 Engineering................................................................................................................. 40 Fossils ......................................................................................................................... 52 Geology ...................................................................................................................... 54 Health ......................................................................................................................... 61 Physical Sciences ....................................................................................................... 64 Social Sciences .......................................................................................................... 86 Traditional Knowledge ................................................................................................ 97 Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Archaeologists Permits ................................................................................................... 104 Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Research Permits ............................................................................................... 119 Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries Scientific Licences ........................................................................................... 135 2005 Licensed Research Projects ………………………………………………………………… 142 Aurora Research Institute Scientific Research Licences Biology ...................................................................................................................... 143 Contaminants............................................................................................................ 167 Engineering............................................................................................................... 170 Fossils ....................................................................................................................... 182 Geology .................................................................................................................... 184 Health ....................................................................................................................... 189 Physical Sciences ..................................................................................................... 193 COMPENDIUM OF RESEARCH IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — 2004-2005 iii Introduction Social Sciences ........................................................................................................ 217 Traditional Knowledge .............................................................................................. 229 Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Archaeologists Permits ................................................................................................... 237 Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Research Permits ............................................................................................... 246 Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries Scientific Licences ........................................................................................... 259 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... 283 Researcher Index ....................................................................................................................... 296 Index ............................................................................................................................................ 302 COMPENDIUM OF RESEARCH IN THE NORTHWEST