“YOU KNOW THE SAYING, THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT YOU HAVE TO WEAR SHADES?” DESCRIBING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON WELLBEING, ENVIRONMENTS AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURES WITH THREE REMOTE, OFF-GRID NUNATUKAVUT COMMUNITIES by Emily C. Beacock Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia July 2019 © Copyright by Emily C. Beacock, 2019 Table of Contents List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Abstract ............................................................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations Used .............................................................................................. viii Glossary ............................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. x Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Positioning Myself and this Work .................................................................................. 1 Researching through Bakeapples .................................................................................... 3 Research Statement ......................................................................................................... 4 The Research Team......................................................................................................... 7 NunatuKavut ................................................................................................................... 8 Locating NunatuKavut ................................................................................................ 8 Inuit Culture and Lifeways – Land as a Way of Life ................................................. 9 Sustainability Challenges Faced by NunatuKavut Inuit Communities .................... 10 NunatuKavut Community Council Community Governance and Sustainability Initiative & Sustainability Successes ........................................................................ 12 Researching Sustainability in NunatuKavut ............................................................. 13 How Does this all Fit Together? ................................................................................... 14 Recognizing Academic and Community Needs ....................................................... 16 Summary of the Introduction ........................................................................................ 17 Chapter 2: Methodological Foundations ........................................................................... 19 Grounded in Community .............................................................................................. 20 Drawing from Decolonial Theory ................................................................................. 23 Framing Research by Applying the Principles of Decolonial Theory ...................... 26 Community-based Participatory Research .................................................................... 27 What is CBPR? ......................................................................................................... 28 Principles of CBPR ................................................................................................... 28 Critiques of CBPR .................................................................................................... 29 Applying CBPR: Reflections on my Own Experience ............................................. 32 Applying the Methods through Bakeapple Cheesecake ........................................... 37 ii Summary of Methodological Frameworks ................................................................... 38 Chapter 3: Community Report .......................................................................................... 40 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 43 Dear NunatuKavut Community Members ................................................................... 44 Research Question: ...................................................................................................... 50 Results: ......................................................................................................................... 50 Theme 1: Sustainability is Wholistic ....................................................................... 50 Theme 2: Health is Place, Community and Culture: Just as Complex as xxiSustainability ........................................................................................................... 53 Theme 3: Getting Off Diesel is a Scary Idea ........................................................... 55 Theme 4: Renewable Energy (and Other Development) as a Pathway to xxiSustainability ........................................................................................................... 57 Theme 5: Decision-making Must be Sustainable Too ............................................. 58 Theme 6: Communities Believe in their Sustainable Futures .................................. 60 Final Words: ................................................................................................................. 61 Want to Learn More or Get Involved with Sustainability Work in your Community? 62 What’s Next with this Data? ........................................................................................ 63 Questions, Comments, Concerns About this Report .................................................... 63 Chapter 4: Academic Report ............................................................................................. 64 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 64 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 65 Background on Sustainability & Wellbeing ................................................................. 67 Intersecting Sustainability, Community, and Indigenous Ways of Being ................ 68 Tying Indigenous Wellbeing into Sustainability ...................................................... 70 Drawing from Decolonial Theory ............................................................................. 72 Methods......................................................................................................................... 73 Methodological Foundations .................................................................................... 73 Role of the Researchers ............................................................................................ 73 Collaborating Communities ...................................................................................... 74 Research Ethics ......................................................................................................... 76 Research Instruments ................................................................................................ 77 Participant Recruitment & Data Collection .............................................................. 78 Data Analysis, Dissemination & Continuing Conversations .................................... 78 iii Results ........................................................................................................................... 79 Sustainability is Wholistic: Healthy Land, Healthy People, Healthy Economies and Healthy Futures ......................................................................................................... 79 Autonomy is Integral to Sustainable Futures ............................................................ 81 Looking Towards Sustainable Futures in NunatuKavut ........................................... 82 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 84 Balancing Humans, Nature and Development .......................................................... 84 A Study in Bakeapples: Understanding NunatuKavut Sustainability....................... 85 Limitations & Lessons for the Future ....................................................................... 91 Where to Go Next? ................................................................................................... 93 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 94 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 5: Synthesis Discussion ....................................................................................... 95 Situating this Research .................................................................................................. 95 What Isn’t Here? ........................................................................................................... 96 Limitations & Next Steps.............................................................................................