3. Community Selection – Narrow it down to the approximate number of
communities that you would feasibly consider including in your project.
4. Research Contact – Contact representatives at the appropriate northern research institute (e.g. Nunavut Research Institute,Aurora Research Institute (NWT),
Nunavik Research Institute (northern Québec), Nunatsiavut Government) to solicit their help in identifying appropriate local community contacts.This stage can
also include contacting researchers who may have experience working in, or near,
a particular community. They might also suggest other communities of interest.
5. Regional Contact – Contact the appropriate land claims body, if applicable
(e.g. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (Nunavut), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
(western NWT), Makivik Corporation (northern Québec), and Nunatsiavut Government (Labrador) because they may have community liaison officers already
established. In addition, contact regional Inuit associations or other regional
organizations (e.g. co-management boards, regional/territorial government, etc.)
to receive further recommendations for local contacts. They might also suggest
other communities of interest.
6. Local Contact – If no local liaison or advisory group is recommended, consider the Hamlet Council Senior Administrative officer (SAO) or Mayor (or equivalent) as a good starting point in informing the community of your interests and
your proposed project. They should be able to suggest further local contacts appropriate to the particular research focus being proposed. They might also suggest other communities of interest.
7. Initial Interaction – After establishing appropriate local contacts, make written contact first (preferably fax, or email where possible), then follow up with
phone calls. This helps avoid cold-calling because you can begin the conversation by asking if the organization received your fax successfully. If not, then you
can explain your interests/intentions and go from there.
8. Preliminary Community Visit – Once initial community contacts have been
made, additional local recommendations often come easier.After contacting the
local organizations who would be involved in, or relevant to, the proposed
research project, it is highly recommended to arrange a preliminary community
visit. The purpose of this trip would be to meet with individuals and groups in
the community, to discuss the project, and to solicit feedback in person. This
interaction helps assess community interest and project feasibility, while also refining the project proposal according to local concerns or suggestions. Having this
initial interpersonal contact can greatly enhance the ease with which a research
license is acquired. In addition, it may invite a more receptive response from
local individuals and organizations when the field research actually begins – on
a subsequent trip.This visit also allows the researcher to discuss the project with
representatives of regional Inuit organizations while enroute to a community.
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N EGOTIATING R ESEARCH R ELATIONSHIPS W ITH I NUIT C OMMUNITIES